Stephen C.W. Graves

Stephen CW Graves, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Center for Africana Studies at Oklahoma State University. Previously he taught at the University of Missouri, Mt. Hood Community College, Clark College, Portland Community College, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), University of Nevada-Reno, and Howard University. He specializes in Political Theory, Black Politics, and American Government. Prior to attending Howard University, Stephen received his Master’s Degree (MA) in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.

While teaching, Stephen has been involved in the community as the founder of Troublesome, a non-profit organization that focuses on community outreach and providing educational and professional services to minorities and underprivileged groups in East Multnomah County. A long with his commitment to community service, he has been a presence on Mt. Hood’s campus as the faculty advisor for the Black Student Union (BSU), and received the Outstanding Teaching Award in 2015.

Outside of academics, Stephen has worked for Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), a not for profit trade organization that works directly with legislators, regulators, non-governmental organizations and retail partners to ensure the future of safe and effective consumer products. Additionally, he has worked for the Washington State Senate, Washington State Attorney General’s Office, and the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs.

Dr. Graves was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to parents Cedric and Marcia Graves on July 26, 1982. Together with his two older brothers Yakima Ward and Cedric II, the family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1984 where he graduated from Centennial High School in Gresham, Oregon in 2000. In 2004, he graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington where he was a member of the UPS Loggers football team. To this day, Stephen’s family still resides in the Portland area and he continues to call the Pacific Northwest home.