Charles L. Chavis Jr. is a 2012 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He graduated Cum Laude with disciplinary honors in the area of African American and Diaspora Studies. While attending UNCG, Chavis served as of the African American and Diaspora Studies Program Ambassador. Charles is a charter member of the Ankh Maat Wedjau Honor Society of the National Council of Black Studies and graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Degree in African American Studies and History.

In 2011 he published “Yared (Saint, 505–571 AD),” on the sixth century Ethiopian pioneer of musical notation, in BlackPast.org. In August of 2012 he published “Strange Fruit in the Age of Obama” in Dr. Frank Naurice Woods’ text Rooted in the Soul. Earlier that year Charles was honored and awarded the distinguished Brandon Honors Scholar award by Vanderbilt University Divinity School. While at Vanderbilt, Charles was awarded several grants to conduct and present research in Ethiopia, Great Britain, and Costa Rica.

In 2014 Charles graduated from Vanderbilt with his Masters of Theological Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Black Church Studies. Currently, Charles is pursuing his PhD. in History at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, where he serves as the President of the History, African American and Museum Studies Graduate Council (HAFRAM GC). In 2015 Charles was awarded the Lord Baltimore Research Fellowship of the Maryland Historical Society. Charles resides in Baltimore with his wonderful wife Erica and his son Charles “Noah.”