Lorelle D. Semley

Lorelle D. Semley is a distinguished historian specializing in Africa and the African diaspora, serving as a Professor and Director of African and African Diaspora Studies. After completing her Ph.D. in History at Northwestern University in 2002, Lorelle D.

Her profound contributions to historical scholarship have been further supported by prestigious grants from organizations including the National Endowment of the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies. In 2023, Semley advanced her leadership trajectory, transitioning to Boston College where she now serves as Director of the African and African Diaspora Studies program, overseeing strategic initiatives and academic direction. Beyond her directorship, she continues her editorial work as an Associate Review Editor for the American Historical Review. Semley is currently engaged in a significant book project, delving into the history of African and Caribbean communities in Bordeaux, France, spanning from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, further cementing her position as a leading voice in transatlantic and colonial histories.