We want to recognize Professor Gabriel for tenure and promotion!
Professor Dexter Gabriel earned his Ph.D. from the State University of New York, Stony Brook in 2016. He arrived at the University of Connecticut in the fall semester of 2016 as an Assistant Professor of History with a joint appointment with the Africana Studies Institute. A nineteenth-century Americanist with a concentration in comparative slavery, Professor Gabriel’s specialization is a critical addition to the Africana Studies Institute.
In April 2023, Professor Gabriel published his monograph, Jubilee’s Experiment: The British West Indies and American Abolitionism, with Cambridge University Press. Professor Gabriel’s external reviewers have praised the book for its analytical framework, creative use and detailed way in which he has mined the data—letters, pamphlets, books, newspapers, and other printed materials. Professor Vincent Brown of Harvard University, writes: “Jubilee’s Experiment will establish his reputation as an important voice in a vital area of study.” In addition to this recent book, Professor Gabriel has published a series of well-written articles. Dexter Gabriel has won three highly competitive fellowships since his arrival at UConn: a University of Connecticut Humanities Institute Faculty Fellowship, the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Benjamin F. Stevens Fellowship; and a fellowship at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City.
In addition to his impressive scholarly publications, Professor Gabriel is an award-winning author of six historically informed science fiction novels and numerous short stories. Under a pen name, he moonlights as a novelist and has been a finalist for the 2021 Hugo prize, a New York Times Editor’s Choice book and recipient of the national Nebula, Locus, and Alex awards for 2020.
Professor Gabriel is a strong teacher who has taught courses critical to the minors and majors in Africana Studies. He has introduced three new courses to our curriculum: Comparative Slavery in the Americas, Making the Black Atlantic, and Slavery in Film. With these classes in mind, we solicited some feedback from his students:
My journey at UConn Storrs started my junior year and I didn’t know what to expect. Transferring from the Stamford Campus I only had one mindset of being a Political Science major, however upon my entry to your class Slavery in Film, it was the beginning to my journey in Africana Studies. I didn’t only learn about my history; I also found my passion. Without your welcoming aura and your dedication in students, there is a high possibility my Africana Studies journey would have ended before it started. Thank you for your patience, kindness, and just being an overall extraordinary professor. I could not thing of a Professor more deserving than you. I wish you the best in your new position and all your endeavors!
-- Ashanti Bolling
Professor Gabriel was the second Africana professor whom I had the pleasure of taking at my time at UConn. He taught the class with such passion that although some material wasn’t knew I was still deeply interested. My favorite part about his classes were the pop quizzes—just joking, it was definitely the engagement with students that made me excited to come to class.
-- Tae’Niajha Pullen
Congratulations Professor Gabriel on your promotion! I’m beyond grateful for your help in strengthening my academic and career journey. Professor Gabriel’s dedication and immense knowledge has inspired me to research more, ask questions, and overall be curious about my learning. Having a professor as engaging as him within a study that has been facing threats of erasure is the utmost important. His teachings has strengthened the community in rediscovering our truth. Thank you again, Prof Gabriel and congratulations!
-- Kayla Azinge