Dr. Renford R. Reese's Homepage


			In 1996, Renford Reese received his Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning, and Development. He conducted his dissertation research at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in Geneva, Switzerland in 1995. He received his Master's degree in public policy from the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies in 1990 and his Bachelor's degree in political science from Vanderbilt University in 1989. Son of the late pioneer journalist, Earnest Reese, Dr. Reese is currently a professor in the political science department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is the faculty coordinator for the Africa Study Abroad programs (Tanzania/Ghana). He is the author of four provocative nonfiction books: American Bravado (2007), Prison Race (2006), Leadership in the LAPD: Walking the Tightrope (2005), and American Paradox: Young Black Men (2004). He is also the author of the Starbucks "The Way I See It" Quote #294: "Insensitivity makes arrogance ugly; empathy is what makes humility beautiful." Reese has traveled to 66 countries and has given lectures in many of them. In 2009, Reese was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholars Award and lectured in the American Studies program at the University of Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong, he was inspired to write his first novel, Hong Kong Nights. He was featured on ESPN's "Realizing the Dream" Black History Month series and appears as a commentator on The Biography Channel's mini-bios on Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson. He is the founder of the Prison Education Project, the Reintegration Academy for parolees, and the Colorful Flags program. He was the recipient of the 2011 George P. Hart "Faculty of the Year" award.
		PHOTOS Juvenile justice advocate and producer of the Hangover films, Scott Budnick introduces Professor Renford Reese to NBC Nightly News correspondent, Chelsea Clinton. Clinton came to the CRC-Norco prison to do a report on prison education, which aired on May 8, 2012. Professor Reese is the founder of PEP, which currently has Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, and Pitzer College student volunteers in the CRC-Norco prison. Cornel West Brings CPP Together; Historic Night at CPP, The Poly Post, February 1, 7, 2012. Professor Reese shares a laugh with Bishop Desmond Tutu in his office at Emory University. Tutu tried to teach Reese a few phrases in Xhosa. Reese met with Tutu to discuss the Colorful Flags program. Children listen while Dr. Renford Reese speaks about the importance of education at the Los Angeles Clippers' Ryan Hollins' Youth Basketball Camp at John Muir High School (Pasadena Star News, August 1, 2012: SGVN/ Photo By Sarah Reingewirtz). Ryan Hollins of the LA Clippers uses a Colorful Flags language card to communicate with locals on a visit to Beijing to play LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Dr. Reese gave all of the Clippers Colorful Flags phonetic cards in Mandarin for their trip to China for this exhibition game (Oct. 11,2012).See the Chinese business owner respond after Hollins says "Thank You" in Mandarin. Dr. Reese shares lessons learned with actor Larenz Tate. Reese brought Tate to the CRC-Norco prison to dialogue with inmates on November 9, 2012, Our Weekly . MORE INFORMATION: New Colorful Flags App Professor Receives George P. Hart Award, Metro Pomona, September 22, 2011 Students get brave opportunity through `Prison Project', The Poly Post, November 29, 2011 A Captive Audience, Cosmopolitanism, September 9, 2012 Accomplished Professor, Author,The Poly Post, February 28, 2011 Making an Impact in the Field of Life, Vanderbilt Commodore Magazine, March 2010 Would-be president, scholar, actor, rapper, athlete, activist shine on Henry County, The Henry Herald Cal Poly Pomona Professor Featured in ESPN Spot, The Poly Post McDonough Native Featured in ESPN Spot, The Henry Herald Political Science Professor Awarded Fulbright Fellowship Study Abroad Opportunity with Professor Reese Revisiting King's Dream College Students in Taiwan told to be 'Fish out of Water' U.S. State Department/American Institute of Taiwan Lecture Series Obama and Race Relations in America, Zhuhai, China The Obama Presidency One Year Later: What has changed? Macau, S.A.R, China Reintegration Academy - Fields to be keynote speaker at community forum Reintegration Academy - Program Offers Parolees Second Chance Cal Poly Pomona Scholar-Baller Video Henry's Renford Reese Henry's Native Quote State Assembly Photos Colorful Flags Assembly MORE Intramural Sports Street Music in Seattle Bronco Pride Letter to Incoming Freshmen ESPN "Realizing the Dream" Commercial SPORTS BIO: College Football Days at Vanderbilt