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Dr William Ackah

Positions held:
  • Reader in Social Sciences and African Diaspora Studies, School of Social Sciences
  • Senior Lecturer in Black and Community Geographies, School of Social Sciences
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  • Overview

    Overview

    Biography

    • William Ackah is Reader in Social Sciences and African Diaspora Studies in the School of Social Sciences at ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú, University of London.

    He holds a PhD in Government from the University of Manchester and is a Fulbright Research award reciepient. 

    He is current chair of the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race an international organization that brings together academics, community activists and church leaders with the aim of tackling injustices faced by people of African descent around the world.

    He is Co-Editor of The Black PhD Experience: Stories of Strength, Courage and Wisdom in UK Academia with Jacqueline Darkwa, Wayne A. Mitchell, De-Shaine Murray and Madina Wane (Bristol: Policy Press 2024)

    He is a co-convenor of the African Diaspora Postgraduate Network, working with Leading Routes to support Black PhD students across the UK.


    Highlights

    • Co Editor and Contributing author of The Black PhD Experience: Stories of Strength, Courage and Wisdom in UK Academia, Bristol, Policy Press 

    Professional memberships

    • International Sociological Assocation

      Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora.

    ORCID

  • Research

    Research

    Research interests

    • Religion and Politics in Africa and the African Diaspora
    • Pan-Africanism
    • Black Student and Staff Experiences in Higher Education
    • Black Church Community Activism UK and USA
    • Anti-Racist and Decolonial Pedagogy
    • Spatial Dimensions of African Diasporic Cultures
    • Race Equality Policy and Practice
  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions external to ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú:
    1
    Supervisions within ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú:
    7

    I am interested in supervising in the areas of:

    Pan-Africanism

    Black Community Politics UK

    African and African Diaspora Religion/Spirituality

    Race Equality and Black Experience in Higher Education

    I convene with Dr Hanna Akalu and Leading Routes: Blacks in Academia The African Diaspora Post-graduate Network which supports aspiring and current Doctoral Students of African descent in the social sciences and humanities. 

    Current doctoral researchers

    • FAIZA ABDULKADIR
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
    • JADA BROWN
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
      Title of thesis:
      Exploring the intersectional, embodied lived experiences of Black, autistic students in UK higher education.
    • JOY BROOKS-GILZEANE
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
    • BEX SHORUNKE
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
      Title of thesis:
      Black and Blue: How Black women officers and staff experience the racialised and gendered dynamics of British police services and develop strategies to cope
    • NANDITA SIRKER
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
    • SABRINA BOWEN
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
      Title of thesis:
      Exploring explores the intergenerational transnational activities and identity formations of UK-based Commonwealth Caribbean diaspora

    Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

    • PAULINE MUIR
      Nature of supervision:
      Joint Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      Psychosocial Studies Research
      Awarded:
      2018

    Teaching

    I teach and co-ordinate in the areas of

    Community Action (Social Movements UK and International)

    The Politics of Race and Diaspora

    Community Based Placement (supporting students undertaking placement and volunteering opportunities on the Community Development Programme)

    Critical Social Geographies (Spatial dimensions of race, class, gender, sexuality and religion)

    Equality and Diversity Policy and Practice in the UK

    Teaching modules

    • The Politics of Race and Diaspora
    • Critical Social Geographies
    • Community Engagement and Public Policy
    • Methods, Analysis and Techniques
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Ackah, William (2021) . Peabody Journal of Education 96 (2), pp. 192`-205. ISSN 0161-956X.
    • Ackah, William (2013) . Theology 116 (4), pp. 298-299. ISSN 0040-571X.
    • Ackah, William (2011) . African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal 4 (2), pp. 161-176. ISSN I752-8631.
    • Ackah, William (2010) . Black Theology: An International Journal 8 (3), pp. 341-356. ISSN 1476-9948.
    • Ackah, William (2001) . Africa Quarterly 40 (1), ISSN 0001-9828.

    Book

    • Ackah, William and Dankwa, J. and Mitchell, W. and Murray, D.-S. and Wane, M., eds. (2024) . Bristol, UK: Policy Press. ISBN 9781447369981.
    • Ackah, William and Dodson, J. and Smith, R.D., eds. (2017) . Routledge Studies in Religion. New York, U.S.: Routledge. ISBN 9781138205840.
    • Ackah, William, ed. (2016) . Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. ISBN 9781138205246.
    • Smith, R.D. and Ackah, William and Reddie, A., eds. (2014) . Black Religion/Womanist Thought/Social Justice. New York, U.S.: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137411655.
    • Ackah, William and Christian, M., eds. (1997) . Liverpool, UK: Charles Wootton College. ISBN 9780952993407.

    Book review

    • Ackah, William (2019) .

    Book section

    • Ackah, William (2024) . In: Dixon McKenzie, D.A. and Muir, P.E. and Ingalls, M.M. (eds.) Black British Gospel Music: From the Windrush Generation to Black Lives Matter. Congregational Music Studies Series. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 241-249. ISBN 9781032145853.
    • Ackah, William (2024) . In: Ackah, William and Darkwa, J. and Mitchell, W. and Murrary, D. and Wane, M. (eds.) The Black PhD Experience: Stories of Strength Courage and Wisdom in UK Academia. Bristol, UK: Policy Press. pp. 1-14. ISBN 9781447369974.
    • Ackah, William (2021) . In: Falola, T. and Bashir Salau, M. (eds.) Africa in Global History. De Gruyter. pp. 263-279. ISBN 9783110677812.
    • Ackah, William (2020) . In: Rabaka, R. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Pan-Africanism. New York, U.S.: Routledge. ISBN 9780367030667.
    • Ackah, William (2018) . In: Steele, B.J. and Heinze, E. (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Ethics and International Relations. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138840201.
    • Ackah, William (2018) . In: Smith, R.D. and Boddie, S. and Peters, R. (eds.) Urban Ministry Reconsidered. Louisville, U.S.: Westminster John Knox. pp. 62-69. ISBN 9780664263928.
    • Ackah, William (2017) . In: Ackah, William and Dodson, J. and Smith, R.D. (eds.) Religion, Culture and Spirituality in Africa and the African Diaspora. New York, U.S.: Routledge. pp. 1-14. ISBN 9781138205840.
    • Ackah, William (2015) . In: Smith, R.D. and Ackah, William and Tshaka, R. and Reddie, A. (eds.) Contesting Post-Racialism: Conflicted Churches in the United States and South Africa. Jackson, U.S.: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 229-242. ISBN 9781628462005.
    • Ackah, William (2012) . In: Christian, M. (ed.) Integrated but unequal : Black faculty in predominately white space. Trenton, U.S.: Africa World Press. ISBN 9781592218684.
    • Ackah, William (2010) . In: Soyinka-Airewele, P. and Edozie, R.K. (eds.) Reframing Contemporary Africa: Politics, Economics and Culture in the Global Era. Washington, U.S.: CQ Press. ISBN 9780872894075.
  • Business and community

    Business and community

    Media

    I am happy to receive enquiries from the media on the following topics:

    • Black communities in the UK
    • racism in the UK
    • African Diaspora Politics and Religion
    • Experience of Black Staff and Students in Higher Education
    • Decolonising the Academy

    Outreach

    15th October 2020 African Diaspora Consortium member of steering committee advising on teaching African Diaspora AP curriculum to partner schools across the US and internationally. 

    24th October 2020 Invited Speaker Reading Parkside Adventist Church, part of panel to discuss theological implications of George Floyd and Institutionalised Racism for the Christian Church.

    27th October 2020 Invited Speaker/Trainer for the Joint Learning Initiative board on Decolonising their organisation and work processes 50 participants from International Development Organisations around the World.

    28th October 2020 Invited Speaker the William Seymour Project on Race, Religion and Social Justice, 18 Pastors and Church leaders, spoke to them on ideas of community action and social change in their local contexts, drawing on Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race work, research in the US and my paper on Urban Ministry in D. Smith et al Urban Ministry Revisited

    30th October 2020 invited expert commentator for the Reach Society  on the book 100 Black Britons. Asked to comment on decolonising the curriculum in Higher Education and how Universities are tackling the issue.

    25th November 2020 Invited keynote Seminar Speaker Kings College, University of London, Department of Theology and Religious Studies on Reviving and Rejoicing amidst Marginalisation: An Assessment of the African Diasporic Religious Experience in the Inner City’.

    27th November 2020 TV Interview on Indus TV programme the Scope, commenting on Universities UK report on  Tackling Racial Harassment in Higher Education