Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Shane Bolles Walsh
Senior Lecturer and Affiliate Faculty | University of Maryland
The Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. Center for Education, Justice & Ethics is proud to recognize the educators, researchers, mentors, and community partners whose dedication makes transformative learning experiences possible. Through initiatives like the Alabama Civil Rights Journey, our team works to connect history with the present, encouraging students to deepen their understanding of justice, civic engagement, and community leadership.
Today, we're highlighting Dr. Shane Bolles Walsh. Dr. Shane Bolles Walsh is an Affiliate Faculty for the Judge AW Center and a Senior Lecturer for the Department of African American and Africana Studies at the University of Maryland. Through his experience as a Senior Lecturer teaching Black studies, he found this site trip to be moving and invaluable in his ability to engage with the physical spaces firsthand that carry the history and impact that he teaches to his students.
Dr. Shane Bolles Walsh quoted, "...Bearing witness to these sites alongside young people, many of whom are the same age as the original protesters, was a particularly meaningful experience."
Dr. Shane Bolles Walsh believes this trip deeply connects with Judge AW Center's mission, vision and values based on Judge Williams' personal experience that he wanted to bring home to the center.
He reflects, "Judge Williams undertook a similar trip to Alabama years ago while still serving on the bench, and the images from that journey now form a significant part of the JAW archive. Our recent trip reflected the Judge’s enduring commitment to civil rights and his insights into the law’s role in advancing justice for all Americans. This connection was further strengthened by a unique opportunity for students to meet and converse with contemporary and recently retired Birmingham elected officials. Engaging with current leadership provided a valuable contrast to the historical narratives encountered at sites, museums, and memorials..."
