Professor led, shaped the African American studies program at UH
James “Jim” Conyers, a scholar, professor and longtime director of the University of Houston’s African American studies program, died Monday at age 59.
The cause of death has not been reported, according to a UH spokesman.
“While our community is mourning the loss, we have been blessed to know such an impactful activist and scholar,” Dr. Daniel P. O’Connor, interim dean of the college of liberal arts and social sciences, said in a written statement.
“His commitment to racial justice and helping those in need, which he put into action by personally endowing the William Alexander Lawson Social Justice Scholarship for African American studies majors, will endure on our campus and in our community for generations to come,” the statement continued.
Conyers, who began his career at UH in 2002 as a professor, has been credited with shaping and transforming the African American studies program. Established in 1969 after student protests, the program is the state’s oldest and just one of two African American studies programs in Texas to offer a bachelor’s degree. (The University of Texas at Austin offers a bachelor’s and a doctorate in African American studies.)
UH colleagues described Conyers as a prolific scholar and author, a humble researcher and a down-to-earth, selfless academic who was not afraid to collaborate with others.
“He was the embodiment of African American studies,” said Dr. Gerald Horne, Moores professor of history and African American studies at UH. “It’s difficult to see how the (program) will continue without him.”
In a past interview, Conyers noted African American studies “is relevant in this day and time because it requires interdisciplinary reading and writing” of scholars. Conyers also emphasized that Black studies is not far removed from areas in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM disciplines, and that universities are exceedingly interested in finding scholars who are wellversed and can teach in a range of topics.
“There’s a collective value” in such programs, Conyers said.
Dr. Billy Hawkins, interim chair and professor for UH’s department of health and human performance, said Conyers also served as a mentor for students and faculty at UH and endowed a scholarship program for incoming students in African American studies with his own money, a move that Horne described as unusual for academics.
Conyers also unselfishly welcomed collaboration with other academics, Hawkins said. The two worked on several writing projects together, including Conyers’ upcoming book project on the late former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, which is slated for release in April, according to publisher Anthem Press.
“When you think about the ideal professor and academic, that’s what he represented,” Hawkins said. “He was just a cutting-edge, innovative thinker.”
Conyers received his bachelor’s degree in communication arts at Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1983 and his master’s in Africana studies in 1984, according to his university biography.
He studied Kiswahili, the Swahili language, at Cornell University in 1991 and completed his doctorate in African American studies at Temple University in Philadelphia in 1992. His work took him to the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast in the early 2000s for archival and oral history research.
Before working at UH, Conyers launched his teaching career as a professor of history at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1999 and taught Black studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha starting in 2000.
A private ceremony will be held for Conyers.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorial contributions to the William Alexander Lawson Social Justice Scholarship Endowment, which Conyers established.