Aerik Francis is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago with a BA with general honors, majoring political science and minoring in comparative race and ethnic studies. He hopes to become a professor of political theory and critical race theory after attending graduate school for a PhD in political science. He was privileged to be one of the student commencement speakers during the graduation ceremony. In addition, he was a fellow at the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for Conflict and Peace Science at the University of North Texas as well as a 2013 APSA Ralph Bunche Fellow. He is a social justice advocate, previously working as a facilitator for the Emerging Minds Project as well as an organizer in Chicago for racial justice with the Coalition for Equitable Policing.