Dr. Vernon Mitchell, Jr.

Vernon C. Mitchell, Jr., PhD, is the Chief Equity Officer for the City of St. Louis. Prior to this role, Dr. Mitchell served as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina in the History Department and in African American Studies.

Additionally, he has also worked as Curator for Popular American Arts and Culture in the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections housed within the University Libraries at Washington University in St. Louis and was a lecturer in the American Studies Program at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Mitchell earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in American History, focused on African American History, from Cornell University, and his B.A. from the University of Missouri. Dr. Mitchell taught courses centered on social movements and the impact of African American American art and culture on American popular culture.

Mitchell is a native of St. Louis and attended primary and secondary schools in North St. Louis County. He is married to Dr. Diana Hill Mitchell, and they have three children.