Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor. Dr. Mayes earned his Ph.D. in History from Princeton University. His teaching and research interests include the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements; education policy and history; black holiday traditions; racial equity and critical ethnic studies pedagogy; and the history of African Americans. Dr. Mayes has published one book entitled Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African American Holiday Tradition. He is currently working on another book entitled, The Unteachables: Civil Rights, Disability Rights and the Origins of Black Special Education.