Ncobps Inc

The National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) is organized to study, enhance, and promote the political aspirations of people of African descent in the United States and throughout the world. It aims to contribute to the resolution of the many challenges that black people confront. Our organization promotes research in and critical analysis of topics usually overlooked and/or marginalized in political science scholarship. We believe that our scholarship must address wide-ranging “real world” issues and not the narrow, and often manufactured, concerns of the discipline. 

The members of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists have for over 50 years studied, enhanced, and promoted the political aspirations of people of African descent. No other professional association services this same mission. NCOBPS is one of the longest-running African American professional associations. It has bridged the divide between mainstream institutions and historically black colleges and universities. 

NCOBPS has launched a campaign to strengthen its infrastructure; diversify the political science discipline; increase our outreach; train students and faculty; and keep the legacy flourishing. Consider the enduring civic contributions of past NCOBPS leaders: spearheading local chapters of the Urban League and NAACP, challenging discriminatory voting laws, serving in elective and appointed positions at different levels of government, providing training to newly elected officials, incorporating civic education into school curricula, and more.

For 20 years, one passionate volunteer has fulfilled the duties of Executive Director. Volunteers have planned and operated NCOBPS’ annual meeting since its formation, a task that requires long hours of preparation and complex logistics. When gaps occur in funding for important work—like the academic journal—NCOBPS’ leaders have pooled their own resources to cover the difference. NCOBPS is grateful for the extraordinary commitment of its volunteers. Yet, it recognizes that sustained success relies on funding to appoint future leaders who can dedicate themselves, full time, to the organization. Compensated, full-time positions will allow NCOBPS to attract and retain expert professionals who can steer the organization through its ambitious future periods of growth. 

With a strong infrastructural core, NCOBPS can innovate and evolve with the changing needs of each generation. Simply put, donors who invest in NCOBPS’ infrastructure will ensure that it can continue to support the aspirations of black political scientists for decades to come. We would like to endow fellowships that increase the pipeline of Black political science majors, PhDs, and faculty. We want to increase our infrastructure for greater black graduate student recruitment into PhD programs and job placement into academic positions.

With funding from this campaign, NCOBPS would be able to reach beyond the core membership to reflect the interests of the next generation.  This campaign encourages donors to invest in a sustainable, enduring future—and a brighter one. We envision creating a highly professional conference experience that consistently features the nation’s most prominent thought leaders. We envision a nimble operation that consistently surveys its members—and prospective members—to learn what they are searching for, to attend to their needs, and to always offer engaging, relevant experiences.