Meet Our Scholars
Marc Ridgell
Washington University in St. Louis
African and African American Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Sociology
He/They
Flagship
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Marc Ridgell is a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis. As a Black, queer, and first-generation college student, Marc is committed to advocating for Black and queer communities through activism, publicity, and research. In summer 2020, after the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Marc created a social media-based initiative called the Black Queer Informative Project, partnering with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at their school to educate his university community about the connections between Pride month, Black Lives Matter, and intersectionality theory. Since starting college, Marc has been involved with Black Anthology, an annual theatre production at Washington University that narrates an experience within the African diaspora. In December 2020, serving as publicity chair for the organization, he spearheaded the creation and exhibition of a digital museum, showcasing Black undergraduate and graduate students’ writing and art. At Washington University, Marc studies African and African American Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Sociology. A Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Marc’s research focuses on how Black queer and transgender people understand, experience, and theorize their intricate identities as they navigate social spaces. After finishing his program, Marc plans to attend graduate school to continue advocating for Black and queer communities through academic and activist motives.