A former UNC School of Law professor has been named the interim executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

The organization announced the hiring of Kareem Crayton on Wednesday morning. Crayton will serve as the interim executive director while the organization is searching for a full-time replacement for Anita Earls.

Earls recently announced her intention to run for a seat on the Supreme Court of North Carolina next year.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Kareem Crayton be a part of this transition,” SCSJ Board of Directors chair Farad Ali said in a release. “In the 10 years since our founding, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice has become one of the premier civil rights organizations in our country.  We are committed to moving forward, and Dr. Crayton is the right person to help us do just that.”

Crayton has been a visiting professor at Vanderbilt University since leaving UNC in the summer of 2015.

Crayton was featured in a 2014 WCHL story on redistricting in North Carolina, which has continued to be litigated in the federal court system leading to new maps being submitted.

“The  Southern Coalition for Social Justice is vital to defending the civil rights of marginalized communities in the South,” Crayton said in a release. “Having worked with this organization over the years as a partner, I know the key role SCSJ plays in making our governing institutions more accountable and responsive.  I am therefore excited to lead the board, staff, and our community partners through this phase and to make sure we continue this important work well into the future.”

Ali thanked Earls for her service to the organization.

“There is no way that SCSJ would have accomplished everything we have without the leadership of Anita Earls,” Ali said.

Crayton’s tenure with the civil rights organization will start on January 1, 2018.

Related Stories
‹
Civil Rights Leaders Visit Chapel Hill, Advocate for SCOTUS Expansion
As the country awaits a ruling on the future of affirmative action in higher education, civil rights leaders visited Chapel Hill.
Police: UNC Student Victim of Carjacking in W. Franklin Street Parking Deck
Chapel Hill Police are investigating the carjacking of a UNC student that took place early Saturday morning. No injuries are reported.
Honoring Chapel Hill's Black Builders: UNC Landmarks and the Local Faces Who Built Them
Maps are storytellers, but they can exclude certain narratives. Fowota Mortoo said that’s the case for Chapel Hill’s Black builders.
No More Coal? Chapel Hill Prepares for Hearing on UNC's Co-Gen Plant and Potential New Fuel Source
Chapel Hill Town Hall will host a hearing on Thursday to take comments on a potential alternative fuel source for UNC's cogeneration plant.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Sees First Snow in Years
For a few hours over the weekend, the greater Chapel Hill community was in a winter wonderland. A winter storm blanketed Orange County and the surrounding area with a thin layer of snow on Friday. Overnight on Saturday, it was later packed down or rinse away by freezing rain, which its own layer of ice […]
UNC: Ridge Road Open to One Lane After Month-Long Closure, Still 2 Weeks From Normal Traffic
Ridge Road on UNC campus is allowing vehicles and pedestrians through once again. But normal traffic patterns are likely still weeks away.
Chapel Hill Police Investigate Pair of Overnight Armed Robberies Reported 8 Minutes Apart
A pair of armed robberies reportedly took place less than ten minutes from each other during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to Chapel Hill Police.
Chapel Hill Jeweler Contributes 'Blue Crown' Prop to Latest Season of Netflix's 'Outer Banks'
Chapel Hill jeweler William Travis Kukovich was hired to create the Blue Crown, a featured prop, for Netflix's new season of "Outer Banks."
Sancar Scholars Residence in Development to Support Visiting Turkish Academics and Students
Construction is underway for the Sancar Scholar Residence, which will provide accommodations for visiting Turkish scholars and students.
UNC Wrestler Charged With Felony Assault, Suspended from Team
UNC wrestler Jace Palmer has been charged with felony aggravated assault after punching a fellow student. An incident report from the Chapel Hill Police Department says the assault took place on Monday afternoon at 828 Purefoy Road in Chapel Hill, near the intersection with Howell Street south of the UNC campus. According to court records, […]
›