Visiting Faculty Bring Their Vision to Memphis Law

DR. DARRELL JACKSON

VISITING HERFF CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE

Memphis Law proudly welcomed Dr. Darrell Jackson as our visiting Herff Chair of Excellence in Law this semester.

Dr. Jackson’s research interests surround supporting historically marginalized communities (HMC) as they struggle to obtain an equitable share of power within truly democratic societies. His theoretical framework utilizes critical race theory (CRT) at the intersection of three primary disciplines: law; education; and race, cultural or ethnic studies. Using counter-narratives from HMCs and legal analysis that suggests protecting those whose interests are often overlooked, he critically analyzes institutional status quo through research, writing, teaching, commentary and community service.

While at Memphis Law, Dr. Jackson has focused his work on critical race theory in an immersive academic environment with a combination of courses, faculty scholarship workshops, community partnerships and collaborations and a critical race theory symposium. That special symposium, titled “Critical Race Theory: Truth, Lies & the Law,” was immensely successful and focused on critical race theory throughout a variety of disciplines, the educational academy and broader community, with topics ranging from voting, healthcare, housing, education and criminal justice and featuring national experts from across the spectrum.

His intersession course focused on the history, present and future of critical race theory. While deeply analyzing CRT through a casebook, law review articles and leading treatises, students personally engaged (via Zoom) with nationally recognized CRT scholars. The course culminated with each student presenting and providing a paper that engaged CRT in a legal field where the student already demonstrated interest and expertise.

protecting those whose interests are often overlooked, he critically analyzes institutional status quo through research, writing, teaching, commentary and community service

"There is a great story to tell in Memphis. It is one of the rural south, a progressive urban center and, at the same time, a familiar all-American and global citizen story that stands to impact everyone."

DR. LEANNE DESOUZA-KENNEY

VISITING FULBRIGHT CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN RACE & HEALTH POLICY

This semester saw the arrival of Dr. Leanne DeSouza-Kenney as our visiting Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Race & Health Policy. Her work in Memphis and at the law school has focused on researching health disparities across vulnerable non-white populations in the United States and Canada. Her research will help provide a detailed understanding of the landscape of health inequities within and between the U.S. and Canada, emphasizing the key health disparities of maternal and child health, chronic disease and access to healthcare before and during COVID-19. In an urban community like Memphis, which has such an incredible healthcare and hospital network, while also sadly containing some of the starkest divides in health inequities and chronic disease, her work will be an invaluable tool in driving change throughout Memphis and Canada. The Memphis and Canadian communities are excited to see her work progress, both here and going forward.