He has taught previously at Wayne County Community College, Michigan State University, and in the public schools of Detroit, MI and Columbus, OH. He holds a B.A. degree in English and Spanish from Marshall University in his home town of Huntington, WV. He holds M.A. and PHD degrees in American Literature (specializing in all genres of African American Literature) from Michigan State University. He teaches a multidisciplinary spectrum of African American Studies courses. He specializes in the Cultural History and Cultural Continuity of the expanse of the African Diaspora as expressed in literature, music, and film and their relationship to social movements. His courses include Hip Hop Lyricism in African American Culture and Films African American Experience.