Louis Moore Appointed as Dean’s Distinguished Senior Scholar
August 18, 2025 - Kelly Smith
The College of Social Science is pleased to announce that Dr. Louis Moore has been appointed in the Department of History as a Dean’s Distinguished Senior Scholar at Michigan State University.
The program, established in 2018, promotes an inclusive scholarly environment for exceptional senior faculty who bring distinction to MSU, enhance the College’s standing, and support the advancement of institutional access.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Moore taught U.S. history, African American history, civil rights, and sports history at Grand Valley State University for 17 years.
“This is a dream job and opportunity for me. I feel like Magic Johnson in ’79!” said Dr. Moore. “I can’t wait to collaborate with my fabulous new colleagues and the fantastic students.”
Dr. Moore’s research uses the Black athlete as a window to examine U.S. history. He has published three books: I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, 1880-1915 (2017); We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality (2017); and The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans and the Making of the Black Quarterback (2024). He is currently working on a book project studying the decline of the African American baseball superstar.
In addition, he has created two audible lectures for The Great Courses: African American Athletes Who Made History and A Pastime of Their Own: The Story of Negro League Baseball. He is also co-host of The Black Athlete podcast.
Dr. Moore has shared his research and knowledge by writing for various online outlets, including The New York Daily News, Vox, The Global Sports Institute, First and Pen, and the African American Intellectual Historical Society (AAIHS). He has appeared on NPR, MSNBC, CNN, and BBC Sports.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Dr. Louis Moore as a Dean’s Distinguished Senior Scholar. His groundbreaking scholarship, public engagement, and unwavering commitment to telling Black histories—particularly through the lens of sports—perfectly align with our mission to advance institutional access and inclusive excellence,” said Dr. Nwando Achebe, University Distinguished Professor; Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History; Associate Dean for Access, Faculty Development, and Strategic Implementation; and Director of the Office of Institutional Access.
“Dr. Moore is a transformative thinker whose work will not only enrich our College community but also elevate our national and global standing. It is an honor to have him join us.”
To learn more about Dr. Moore, visit his website.