Associate Professor of Politics and African and African American Studies
B.A., Mississippi Valley State University, M.A., Jackson State University, M.A., Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Dr. Emmitt Y. Riley, III is Associate Professor of Political Science and African and African American Studies at The University of the South, where he also serves as Director of the African and African American Studies Program. From 2022 to 2024, he served as the 42nd President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, one of the nation’s leading scholarly organizations dedicated to advancing the study of Black politics and supporting the professional development of scholars across the discipline. Originally from Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Dr. Riley earned dual bachelor’s degrees in English and Political Science from Mississippi Valley State University. He later received his master’s degree in political science from Jackson State University and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Mississippi.
Dr. Riley’s scholarship examines race, political representation, legislative politics, and racial attitudes in American politics, with particular attention to how African American political representation shapes political behavior and democratic inclusion. His research has appeared in leading journals including the Journal of Black Studies, the Journal of Race & Policy, and the National Review of Black Politics, and he has presented his work at national and international conferences. He is the co-author of Racial Attitudes in America Today: One Nation, Still Divided and is currently working on a book titled The Politics of Anti-Blackness in a Multiracial Democracy.
In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Riley served as a Co-Principal Investigator on a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation–funded project examining payday lending in the Mississippi Delta, a grant-supported initiative totaling $350,000. He has also written several editorials on racial issues featured in the Mississippi Free Press and is frequently consulted by media outlets such as The Guardian, Canadian TV News, TRT World News, and Indiana’s NPR for political commentary. As president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Dr. Riley launched the Black Politics Author Speaker Series and established a Presidential Task Force on Political Engagement and Criminal Justice Reform. His leadership reflects a longstanding commitment to expanding opportunities for graduate students, early-career scholars, and underrepresented voices within the discipline.
An award-winning educator, Dr. Riley received the Anna Julia Cooper Teacher of the Year Award and the Fannie Lou Hamer Award for Service from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. He teaches courses in American politics, African American Studies, and the U.S. Congress. At The University of the South, he serves on the University’s Tenure and Promotions Committee and serves as the 2027 Mentor for Posse Scholars. Dr. Riley is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Across his teaching, scholarship, and public engagement, Dr. Riley remains deeply committed to preparing students to think critically, write analytically, and become leaders equipped to strengthen democracy.
