Dr. Michael Brandon McCormack is Professor and Chair of Pan-African Studies and Professor of Interdisciplinary and Public Humanities (Religious Studies) at the University of Louisville. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt University in 2013. His research explores the intersections of Black religion, popular culture, the arts, and activism, with publications in leading journals and edited volumes. A former Director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research, he is recognized for advancing community-engaged scholarship. His leadership and service have been honored nationally, including induction into the Morehouse Collegium of Scholars and Louisville’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Service.