Dr. Kendall Thomas

Biography

Kendall Thomas is the Nash Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, where he has been teaching since 1984. He co-founded and directs the Center for the Study of Law and Culture, leading interdisciplinary projects that explore how law operates to create meaning in society. His scholarly focus includes comparative constitutional law, human rights, legal philosophy, critical race theory, and feminist legal theory. He is a founding member of the movement to amend the U.S. Constitution to end enforced prison labor. Thomas has authored seminal writings in the field, including 'Critical Race Theory: Key Writings Founded Movement' and has co-edited significant works like 'Legge Razza Diritti: La Critical Race Theory negli Stati Uniti'. He has taught as a visiting professor at Stanford Law School and in American studies and Afro-American studies at Princeton University. His writings are published in various journals and collected essays, and he is recognized for his voluntary service, receiving the Columbia University Faculty Service Award in 2024. Outside academia, Thomas is a professional jazz vocalist and serves on various boards related to health and arts advocacy.

Research Interests