Jelani Cobb

Jelani Cobb is an esteemed writer, author, and educator, currently serving as the Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism at Columbia Journalism School. He formerly held positions as an associate professor of history and director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Connecticut. After earning his Ph.D.

Concurrently, he was appointed the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia University in 2016, solidifying his dual expertise in academic scholarship and contemporary commentary. His insights have made him a featured commentator on major news outlets, including National Public Radio, CNN, Al-Jazeera, and CBS News. In 2018, Cobb made a notable appearance as himself in the final episode of Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage’ season 2.

Jelani Cobb’s distinguished career reached new heights with his appointment as Dean of the Columbia Journalism School in 2022, where he continues to lead at the forefront of journalistic education. He further contributed to critical historical discourse with the publication of ‘The essential Kerner Commission report’ in 2021. Looking ahead, Cobb is slated to release his highly anticipated work, ‘Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025,’ in 2025, continuing his exploration of post-Civil War African-American history, 20th-century American politics, and Cold War history.