Recipient of 2014 Media Achievement Award, Association of American Geographers. (Nation-wide award conferred in recognition of exceptional and outstanding accomplishments in publicizing geographical insights in media of general or mass communication.)

Recipient of 2023 Faculty Academic Outreach Research & Creative Activity Award (for publicly-engaged research), the College of Arts & Sciences, University of Tennessee in recognition of externally focused scholarship that brings together faculty and community collaborators to address real world problems.

MASS MEDIA ENGAGEMENT & RECOGNITION

National and International Level

• Significantly quoted in “Met namenspel ‘Golf van Amerika’ laat het zuiden de Confederatie een comeback maken (With name game ‘Wave of America’, the South makes the Confederacy make a comeback).” Trouw, April 29, 2025. (Published in Dutch)
• Contributed (with Seth Kannarr and Jordan Brasher) guest commentary, “From Greenland to Fort Bragg, America is caught in a name game where place names become political tools.” The Conversation, March 26, 2025.
• Quoted in “Burgum terminates Biden-era lands rule advisory panel and five others.” E&E News by Politico, March 3, 2025.
• Quoted in “From Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, New Amsterdam to New York: The politics behind name changes.” The Indian Express, February 12, 2025.
• Quoted in “Gulf Grab: Trump’s Name Game Drives World Insane.” Washington Times, January 13, 2025.
• Quoted in “How Trump could get his ‘Gulf of America,’” E&E News by Politico, January 9, 2025.
• On-camera speaking cameo in the drama/comedy film, “King Blvd” (directed by Earl Hardy, Indie Rights). Amazon Prime Video. December 2024
• Contributed (with Seth Kannarr) guest commentary, “Why returning the name Kuwohi to the Great Smoky Mountains matters.” The Conversation. October 25, 2024.
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood and Daniel Oto-Peralías) guest commentary, “Offensive names dot the American street map − a new app provides a way to track them.” The Conversation. August 14, 2024.
• Quoted in “Interior name advisers seek to topple ‘Devils Tower,” Greenwire (E&E News by Politico). June 20, 2024.
• Contributed (with Reuben Rose-Redwood and CindyAnn Rose-Redwood) guest commentary, “The renaming of universities and campus buildings reflects changing attitudes and values.” The Conversation. June 18, 2024.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Protecting our Planet.” Brilliant Star Magazine (for children), Vol. 53, No. 2, p. 11 (published May 7, 2024).
• Quoted and research highlighted (with Joshua Inwood) in “MapLab: The Living Black Atlas.” Bloomberg/CityLab. February 28, 2024.
• Contributed (with Joshua Inwood) guest commentary, “Black communities are using mapping to document and restore a sense of place.” The Conversation. February 5, 2024. (Republished by PBS Newshour, Chicago Sun-Times, New Pittsburgh Courier, and other outlets.)
• Interviewed in “Traveling to escape, resist, and belong: centering black experiences within tourism scholarship.” Tourism Geographies Podcast. February 2, 2024.
• Quoted and research highlighted extensively in “Here’s How Many Streets Are Probably Named After Martin Luther King Jr.” Time. January 15, 2024.
• Quoted in “Ces sites publics perpétuent l’héritage de Martin Luther King aux États-Unis.” 24 Heures au Bénin. January 14, 2024.
• Research highlighted & quoted in “I Want to Change MLK Street Names.” Medium. January 1, 2024.
• Quoted extensively for daily magazine article “Coming Up Kudzu.” JSTOR-Daily. December 30, 2023.
• Interviewed on camera extensively for film documentary “A Monumental Project: One Monument. One Town. Divided Times.” Directed by Rachel York Bridgers, Western Carolina University.
• Research highlighted and quoted in “The Nine States That Don’t Have a Street Named After Martin Luther King Jr.” Newsweek, January 16, 2023.
• Research highlighted in “MLK Day Of Service 2023 Focus On Civil Rights Leader’s Unfinished Work.” Patch. January 15, 2023.
• Quoted extensively in “Can a name become a metaphor for civil rights?” Share America. January 10, 2023. Published in several languages and distributed internationally by US State Department and other outlets.
• Contributed (with Joshua Inwood) guest commentary, “How a 2013 US Supreme Court ruling enabled states to enact election laws without federal approval.” The Conversation. November 1, 2022.
• Interviewed (with Amy Potter and Stephen Hanna) for “Remembering Enslavement Book Podcast” New Books Network, September 13, 2022.
• Quoted in “2022’s Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips.” WalletHub. June 22, 2022.
• Contributed (with Stephen Hanna and Amy Potter) guest commentary, “Modern-day struggle at James Madison’s plantation Montpelier to include the descendants’ voices of the enslaved.” The Conversation. June 1, 2022.
• Contributed (with Stephen Hanna and Amy Potter) op-ed, “Changes at Montpelier work against repairing the wounds of slavery.” Washington Post. April 29, 2022.
• Contributed (with Amy Potter) guest commentary, “Plantations could be used to teach about US slavery if stories are told truthfully.” The Conversation. March 15, 2022. Piece republished by GreatSchools.org and distributed to hundreds of thousands of parents in May 15, 2022 newsletter.
• Quoted in “How MLK boulevards throughout the country are inspiring change.” com, January 17, 2022.
• Interviewed in film documentary, “Avenues of Dreams: Reclaiming MLK Boulevards.” Premiered Black Experience Channel on Xfinity, January 13, 2022.
• Quoted in “How public parks honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.” ShareAmerica, January 13, 2022.
• Contributed (with Katrina Finkelstein) guest commentary, “Veterans Day: How crosses and mementos help these Marines remember fallen comrades.” The Conversation. November 3, 2021. (Re-released May 30, 2022)
• Quoted in “New Jersey City Honors Jamaican Immigrants by Renaming Street ‘Jamaica Way’” com, September 7, 2021.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Editorial: Homage to Jamaican immigrants in New Jersey.” The Gleaner (Jamaica), September 4, 2021.
• Quoted in “Kudzu Is So Much More Than the “Vine That Ate the South.” Slate, August 28, 2021.
• Quoted in “To Recognize Black History, Cities Rename Their Streets.” CityLab (Bloomberg), July 16, 2021 (Highlighted in AAG SmartBrief, July 22, 2021).
• Quoted in “Kansas City approves naming street for Martin Luther King.” Associated Press, April 14, 2021. (Article carried by media outlets across Kansas and several across country, such as Houston Chronicle, The Republic, and Raleigh News & Observer.)
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood) guest commentary, “How Black cartographers put racism on the map of America.” The Conversation. February 23, 2021. (Piece had over 280,000 reads and picked up by several news outlets across nation and internationally including Yahoo News).
• Quoted in “Across the U.S., Streets Named After Martin Luther King Jr. Remain a Battleground for Equality.” Dwell, February 12, 2021.
• Research highlighted in “Neighborhoods with MLK streets are poorer than national average and highly segregated, study reveals.” The Conversation
• , January 18, 2021. (Piece picked up by several news outlets across nation.)
• Research highlighted in “What should we do with plantations?” Boston Globe, August 8, 2020.
• Quoted in “Erase history or redefine it? NC communities want to rename streets, neighborhoods.” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), July 27, 2020. (Article later carried by Associated Press, US News & World Report and several newspapers in North Carolina, Southeast USA, and the United States).
• Quoted in “Street Naming is More Than a Performative Gesture,” The Atlantic, July 22, 2020.
• Quoted in “How to Rename a Street,” New York Times Magazine, June 28, 2020, p. 17.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “What street addresses reveal about identity, race, wealth and power.” New Zealand Herald, June 20, 2020.
• Quoted in “One by One, the Statues Are Coming Down. Who’s Next?” GEN, June 18, 2020.
• Quoted in “NAEP Social Studies Scores Show a Downturn in Geography, U.S. History. But Are the Headlines ‘Hyped’?” The74, May 3, 2020.
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood) guest commentary, “Closing polling places is the 21st century’s version of a poll tax.” The Conversation US. March 16, 2020. (Piece also appeared in Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and other outlets)
• Quoted in “US Geographic Illiteracy May be Security Threat,” Asia Times, January 27, 2020.
• Interviewed and contributed research for national television broadcast, “Martin Luther King Blvd in Atlanta,” NBA on TNT, January 20, 2020.
• Quoted in “Emmett Till Memorial, Others Taking Security Steps Amid Vandalism.” Associated Press, November 23, 2019. (Appeared in numerous outlets, including Washington Post, New York Daily News, Times Free Press, Charlotte Observer, US News & World Report, and Miami Herald).
• Research highlighted and quoted in national news article “Kansas City voters choose to remove Martin Luther King Jr.’s name from a historic street.” CNN, November 6, 2019. (republished in numerous other outlets).
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Removing King’s name in Kansas City opens wounds, discussion.” Associated Press, November 6, 2019. (Appeared in numerous outlets, including Minneapolis Star Tribune, Seattle Times, US News and World Report, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS News).
• Research highlighted in national newspaper article, “Kansas City Voters Remove Martin Luther King’s Name From Boulevard.” New York Times, November 5, 2019.
• Quoted in article in national news outlet for local government leaders, “A City Votes on Whether to Undo Naming of MLK Jr. Blvd.” Route Fifty, November 5, 2019.
• Excerpt of interview used in national radio broadcast, “Ta-Nehisi Coates On His Debut Novel.” 1A (National Public Radio), October 1, 2019.
• Interviewed for national radio broadcast, “The Complicated Business of Plantation Tourism.” 1A (National Public Radio), September 30, 2019.
• Consulted on “Do idyllic southern plantations really tell the story of slavery?,” which highlighted the Tourism RESET initiative that I founded and co-coordinate. The Guardian Aug 15, 2019.
• Contributed guest commentary (with Jordan Brasher), “A Confederate statue graveyard could help bury the Old South.” The Conversation US. July 26, 2019. (Piece also appeared in several media outlets, such as Chicago Tribune, History News Network, Houston Chronicle, Milwaukee Independent, Savannah Morning News)
• Quoted and AAG presidential column highlighted in “Independent of everything: Is America too dumb for democracy?” Salon, July 4, 2019.
• Quoted and research data highlighted in “Group seeks to reverse naming of Kansas City street for King.” Associated Press, April 26, 2019. (carried in numerous news outlets, including Washington Post, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times)
• Quoted in “Where streets have one name: Martin Luther King Jr.” ShareAmerica, February 14, 2019.
• Research data highlighted in on-air graphic “Martin Luther King Streets” on CBS Sunday Morning, January 20, 2019.
• Interviewed in “Finding Martin Luther King Jr. In America’s Streets.” The Root, January 17, 2019.
• Quoted in ‘Hip-Hop Deserves That Respect’: Honoring The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan In NYC.” Nation Public Radio (NPR), Dec. 27, 2018.
• Research highlighted in “The Persistence of Whitewashing: How can Americans have such different memories of slavery?” The New Republic, May 31, 2018.
• Quoted in “States Are Using Preservation Laws to Block the Removal of Confederate Monuments.” net, April 24, 2018.
• Research highlighted and quoted in “Whose Neighborhood Should Get a Street Named for M.L.K.?” New York Times, April 15, 2018.
• Research highlighted in “The Other Side of MLK Boulevard.” CityLab, April 11, 2018.
• Contributed guest commentary, “For many US towns and cities, deciding which streets to name after MLK reflects his unfinished work.” The Conversation US. April 6, 2018. (Piece also appeared in Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and other outlets)
• Research highlighted and quoted in “Fifty years after King’s assassination, promise and pain on the avenue that bears his name.” Washington Post, April 4, 2018.
• Research highlighted in “Streets in His Name.” National Geographic, April 2018, pp. 14-25.
• Interviewed on live radio. “Naming Streets for Martin Luther King, Jr.” The Morning Briefing (with Tim Farley), P.O.T.U.S., SiriusXM, March 6, 2018.
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood) guest commentary, “What If the MLK Holiday Were April 4?” Diverse Issues in Higher Education, January 10, 2018. Re-posted, by invitation, as blog in Berkley Forum (Georgetown University, Berkley Center for Peace, Religion, and World Affairs), January 18, 2018.
• Research highlighted in “America’s Tumultuous Love Affair With Kudzu.” Atlas Obscura, December 11, 2017.
• Research highlighted in “An Antidote for American Amnesia.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 2, 2017.
• Contributed (with Reuben Rose-Redwood) guest commentary, “Confederate Memorials and the Unjust Geography of Memory.” com, August 28, 2017.
• Provided consultation and pre-production preparatory interview for newsmagazine story on Confederate monument debate and 1919 racial violence. NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Japan public television network).
• Participated in national radio panel discussion, “A Monumental Problem.” 1A (National Public Radio), August 16, 2017.
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood) op-ed, “America’s Birmingham Moment.” The Globe Post August 14, 2017.
• Contributed (with Josh Inwood) guest commentary, “Why taking down Confederate memorials is only a first step.” The Conversation US. June 4, 2017. (Piece also appeared in Business Insider, Houston Chronicle, Huffington Post, The Raw Story, Salon.com, San Francisco Chronicle,)
• Quoted in news article, “The Next Cities That Might Remove Confederate Monuments.” GOVERNING, June 1, 2017
• Quoted in news article, “Statues, Monuments Connected to Slavery Are Removed.” Voice of America English News, May 5, 2017.
• Quoted in international magazine story, “We Should Build Statues to Teachers.” com, February 7, 2017.
• Research highlighted in nationally circulated op-ed (by Josh Inwood), “Why A Fractured Nation Needs To Remember MLK’s Message Of Love.” The Huffington Post, November 16, 2016 (Piece also appeared in Houston Chronicle, com).
• Quoted in international news magazine story, “’If it had a lovely, posh name, it might have been different’: do street names matter?” The Guardian Weekend, October 22, 2016.
• Co-authored blog (with Josh Inwood) for London School of Economics, US Centre, “How grassroots truth and reconciliation commissions can help activists to reclaim their communities and advance social justice.” June 17, 2016.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Boston Globe, January 18, 2016.
• Research highlighted and quoted in international newspaper article, “Cleaning up the streets that bear the name of his hero—Martin Luther King.” The Guardian, January 18, 2016.
• Research highlighted and quoted in national cable news story, “Martin Luther King: Restoring streets with his name.” CNN, January 18, 2016.
• Quoted in national magazine brief, “Honoring MLK.” Barron’s, January 16, 2016.
• Research highlighted and quoted in national newswire article, “Four Houston schools with Confederate names to get new monikers.” Associated Press, January 15, 2016. (carried in over 60 news outlets).
• Research highlighted in graphic for magazine, “Crunched: How many places in the U.S. have streets named for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.?” The Washington Post Magazine, January 14, 2016.
• Research highlighted in op-ed, “What a failed terror attack in Kenya can teach Americans.” The Washington Post, December 25, 2015.
• Quoted in national newswire article, “New Orleans Considers Removing Confederate Monuments.” Associated Press, December 17, 2015. Article carried in over 1000 online and print news outlets.
• Research highlighted in national magazine article, “The True Story of Kudzu, the Vine That Never Truly Ate the South.” Smithsonian Magazine, September 2015.
• Quoted in magazine article, “Stone Mountain and the Debate Over Confederate Symbols in Georgia.” National Journal, July 31, 2015.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Nathan Bedford Forrest Day honoring key figure in KKK divides Tennesseans.” The Guardian, July 13, 2015.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “At Virginia’s Liberia Plantation, growing interest in lives of its slaves.” The Washington Post, February 16, 2015.
• Co-authored blog (with Josh Inwood and Jim Tyner) for international journal (Environment and Planning D), “Remembering the Real Violence in Ferguson.” Society and Space Open Site, September 10, 2014.
• Research highlighted in magazine article, “Why aren’t stories like Twelve Years a Slave Told at Southern Plantations.” Collectors Weekly, February 28, 2014.
• Quoted and research highlighted in national newswire article, “Urban streets named for MLK still struggle.” Associated Press, January 19, 2014. (Article appeared in numerous print and online news outlets across the U.S., including The Washington Post, USA Today, and NPR.org).
• Research highlighted in news article, “MLK Boulevard: A Snapshot of King’s Dream Deferred.” com January 20, 2014.
• Interviewed for television news story, “Streets bearing MLK’s name often in worst part of town.” MSNBC, August 23, 2013.
• Research highlighted in blog, “The Legacy of the March on Washington: 50 Years Later.” Huffington Post, August 27, 2013.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online magazine article, “Mount Reagan: Why do Americans name mountains after Presidents?” BBC News Magazine, March 12, 2013.
• Research highlighted in graphic snapshot, “Streets with most MLK streets.” USA Today, January 21, 2013, p. 1A.
• Quote and research highlighted in online cover story, “Crawford recalls contentious threads in Utah, as other states, naming streets honoring Martin Luther King Jr.” America, The Diversity Place, January 7, 2013.
• Research highlighted in national newswire article, “Tulsa, Oklahoma’s racial divide bedevils plan to honor MLK.” Reuters News Service, April 23, 2012. (Article appeared in several print and online news outlets across the U.S., including MSNBC).
• Research highlighted in online news article, “Memphis Finally to Name a Street for King.” CNN, April 4, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online news article, “MLK, USA: Many King Streets Stuck on Economic Outskirts.” American Online (AOL), January 17, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in national newswire article, “Memphis may finally name city street after King.” Associated Press, January 12, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online news article, “The Pitfalls of Naming Places after Famous People.” BBC News Magazine, July 29, 2011.
• Research recognized in television interview, “A Film Explores MLK Legacy.” CNN, January 17, 2011.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper story, “By Chance, Two Memorable Days.” The New York Times, January 18, 2009, section NJ, p. 3.
• Quoted in newspaper story, “The Other Side of the Mountaintop; Scholars Assess Nation’s Progress Four Decades after Assassination.” Washington Post, April 4, 2008, A1.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in television news story, “On King Drive, A Dream Deferred.” National CBS Evening News (Weekend Edition), January 20, 2008.
• Quoted and research highlighted in magazine story, “Life on Martin Luther King Jr. Drives across the U.S.” Ebony, January 2008, pp.72-75.
• Quoted in newswire story, “Naming things after living politicians can be risky.” Associated Press, March 15, 2007. (Article appeared in several news outlets including Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, Guardian Unlimited (UK), New York Newsday, Florida Times-Union, Sacramento Bee, Tuscaloosa News, Houston Chronicle, Fox News, and com).
• Quoted in news story, “MLK streets traverse nation’s past, future.” CNN February 21, 2007.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper story, “Despite stereotypes, MLK streets are economically vibrant. “ Newhouse News Service, January 13-15, 2007. (Article appeared in several news outlets including Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American Statesman, The Birmingham News, Charlotte Observer, Kalamazoo Gazette, Kansas City Star , New Orleans Times-Picayune, Seattle Times,   Paul Pioneer Press).
• Quoted in newswire story, “New South Wrestles with Confederate Memorials.” Scripps Howard News Service, August 18, 2005.
• Research highlighted in newswire story, “Group seeks more life along King streets.” Scripps Howard News Service, January 12, 2005.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in live radio news story, “MLK Street Naming in Zephyrhills, FL.” BBC Radio News (Five Live), May 10, 2004.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Honor for Dr. King Splits Florida City, and Faces Reversal.” The New York Times, May 10, 2004, p. 1A.
• Research highlighted and assistance acknowledged in popular book, Along Martin Luther King: Travels on Black America’s Main Street (By Jonathan Tilove, Random House, 2003).
• Research highlighted in newswire article “San Jose, Calif., Split over MLK Street.” Associated Press, November 2, 2003. (Article appeared in Washington Post, The Guardian (UK) and other major media outlets).
• Consultant for television documentary MLK Boulevard: The Concrete Dream (produced and directed by Marco Williams). Documentary aired on Discovery Times Channel, October 2003.
• Interviewed and research highlighted for web publication “The Martin Luther King Boulevard Phenomenon: An Interview with Derek Alderman.” Discovery Times Channel, Oct. 2003.
• Quoted in newswire article “Slavery-era place names dot U.S. maps.” Reuters, May 19, 2003. (Article published on CNN.com and several other national media outlets).
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Streets named MLK at crossroad.” USA Today (by Larry Copeland), January 18-20, 2002, p. 3A.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in radio news story, “MLK Streets.” Public Radio International program Marketplace (Hosted by David Brancaccio) August 28, 2001.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in radio news story, “King Memorials.” National Public Radio program Morning Edition (Hosted by Bob Edwards), January 15, 2001.
• Quoted and research highlighted in article, “Cyberwar Breaks Out over Domain Names.” National Geographic News, March 15, 2001.

Regional, State, and Local Level

• Contributed Perspective essay “Place names once again turn political. Geography experts tell why it matters” (with Seth Kannarr and Jordan Brasher). Knoxville News Sentinel, April 1, 2025.
• Interviewed in “Black History Month: Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.” WBIR (Knoxville, TN), February 13, 2025.
• Interviewed in “Filmmaker highlights struggles and triumphs on streets named after MLK in newly released film ‘King Blvd’.” ABC 24 WATN (Memphis), February 6, 2025.
• Quoted in “Florida’s on board with Trump’s ‘Gulf of America’ name change.” Orlando Sentinel, January 22, 2025.
• Quoted in “Marjorie Taylor Greene to introduce legislation to change name of Gulf of Mexico.” Chattanooga Times Free Press, January 7, 2025.
• Quoted in “‘A refuge:’ Advocate shares history behind Kuwohi after Clingmans Dome name change.” WATE 6 News, September 19, 2024.
• Contributed guest column (with Jordan Brasher) “Reinstating Confederate names may be pushback to racial reckoning, but it harms students.” The Tennessean, June 28, 2024.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Whose Streets? Our Streets!: A New Gazetteer for Downtown Detroit.” The Detroit Socialist, April 24, 2024.
• Research highlighted in blog “Where Do We Go From Here? The future of MLK streets, pt. 1.” HAANDS (Historic African American Neighborhood District Summit), January 16, 2024.
• Interviewed in “Should we rename Hart Plaza in honor of MLK?” Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson (WDET 101.9 NPR). July 27, 2023. (Interview comes in at 43:40)
• Research highlighted in “Renaming of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard impacts community 18 years after change.” The Daily Tar Heel, February 21, 2023.
• Research highlighted in “Pueblo coalition wants to honor MLK by renaming Pueblo Boulevard in his honor.” The Pueblo (CO) Chieftain, January 16, 2023.
• Quoted in “Commentary: Support gaining to reclaim Kuwohi name for Clingman’s Dome area; as it should.” Cherokee One Feather, October 28, 2022.
• Quoted in “Thirteen New Mexico sites renamed to purge derogatory word.” Santa Fe New Mexican, September 18, 2022.
• Quoted extensively in “Tale of 2 mountains: Efforts to restore Indigenous place names.” WATE 6 News (Knoxville, TN), September 5, 2022.
• Interviewed and featured in “UT professor talks Clingmans Dome name change.” WATE 6 News (Knoxville, TN), August 23, 2022
• Highlighted and quoted in “UT professor named to federal committee to address derogatory place names.” WATE 6 News (Knoxville, TN), August 22, 2022.
• Quoted extensively in “‘Gentility’ or ‘slavery’? Perceptions vary on Georgia businesses with ‘plantation’ in name.” Augusta (GA) Chronicle, April 12, 2022.
• Interviewed in “The significance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Knoxville.” WBIR TV Channel (Knoxville, TN), February 28, 2022.
• Quoted in “Feds look to replace derogatory word in public place names.” Santa Fe New Mexican. February 28, 2022.
• Research highlighted in “UT Professor to appear in documentary about MLK streets.” WBIR News (Knoxville, TN) February 3, 2022.
• Quoted in “Chicago has celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — but it wasn’t always so when he was alive.” Chicago Tribune January 17, 2022.
• Quoted extensively in “How Black activism birthed Knoxville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.” Knoxville News Sentinel, January 17, 2022.
• Quoted extensively in “Tale of two streets: Renaming movement finds one New Orleans boulevard divided.” Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, November 4, 2021. (Article also appeared in Yahoo News).
• Quoted in “Naming rights: What universities gain and lose when they name places after people” Columbia Missourian, August 22, 2021

• Quoted in “Confederate Reckoning: How schools in the South are teaching Civil War history” Knoxville News Sentinel, December 4, 2020.
• Interviewed in “ MLK Beloved Streets” Civil Rights and You Podcast, City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency (CREA), October 20, 2020. Video of podcast available on CREA Facebook Channel.
• Quoted in “‘That’s not where we want to go.’ Carrboro drops neighborhood’s Plantation Acres name” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), October 14, 2020.
• Quoted in “The tremendous potential of King Drive” BizTimes: Milwaukee Business Times, August 17, 2020.
• Quoted in “Chattanooga area has nine Native American-themed high school mascots; are they offensive?” Chattanooga Times Free Press, August 3, 2020.
• Quoted in “Six area high schools use Native American nicknames. Will those go away?” Knoxville News Sentinel, July 22, 2020.
• Quoted in “Debate over whether to remove controversial monuments takes center stage in New Mexico.” Santa Fe New Mexican, June 26, 2020, pp. A1 & A4.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the financial fallout.” Harvard Gazette, June 18, 2020.
• Quoted in “Final votes on renaming Airport Boulevard for MLK will occur at the Melbourne Auditorium.” Florida Today, July 5, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Melbourne City Council votes 6-1 to rename Airport Boulevard for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Florida Today, June 12, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Kansas City’s battle over the renaming of The Paseo for Martin Luther King is headed to the ballot — and the national news.” 435: Kansas City’s Magazine, May 17, 2019.
• Quoted in “Murchison Road’s namesake likely owned slaves. Now some are suggesting a change.” The Fayetteville (NC) Observer, March 16, 2019.
• Contributed guest editorial (with Jordan Brasher), “Legal battle over Franklin Confederate statue shows the power of place.” The Tennessean, March 6, 2019.
• Research highlighted in “Getting There: Spokane didn’t just follow suit and rename a street for MLK – it built a new one.” The Spokesman-Review, January 21, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “How Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. got its name in Panama City.” Panama City News Herald, January 20, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Chicago was the first of many cities to name a street for MLK. Now a Detroit filmmaker wants to make a movie about them.” Chicago Tribune, January 17, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Martin Luther King memorial highway dedicated in Victoria.” Victoria (TX) Advocate, January 16, 2019.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “Why don’t cities change controversial street names? UT study says it’s about convenience, economics.” Knoxville News Sentinel, January 9, 2019.
• Quoted in “‘Quincy Square’: Bremerton Seeks Quincy Jones’ Approval For Public Square.” K5 News (Bremerton, Washington), December 16, 2018.
• Quoted in “Council votes to rename section of Charlotte Ave. after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” WSMV TV (Nashville, TN), April 3, 2018.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “On King Drive, hope and despair collide 50 years after the civil leader killed.” St Louis Dispatch, April 1, 2018.
• Quoted in “Will house tied to Rosa Parks find its way back to Detroit?” Detroit Free Press, March 21, 2018.
• Quoted in “Split vote likely on removing Confederate names from Austin schools.” Austin American-Statesman, February 25, 2018.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “The Reason Behind MLK Drive Conditions.” The Signal (Atlanta, Georgia), January 16, 2018.
• Quoted and research highlighted in “‘A sense of place’: Why streets and schools honor Martin Luther King, and why it’s important.” WTOP (Washington DC), January 15, 2018.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “City explores naming street after civil rights hero.” Victoria (Texas) Advocate, January 15, 2018.
• Previously published guest commentary highlighted and quoted, “What if MLK Day were observed on April 4, the date of his death, instead of now?” Knoxville News Sentinel. January 14, 2018.
• Quoted in online newspaper article, “This school honoring Jefferson Davis to be renamed after Barack Obama.” Deseret News, October 19, 2017.
• Quoted extensively in “Make America white nationalist again. On Charlottesville and Donald Trump.” myStatesman (Austin American-Statesman), August 17, 2017.
• Interviewed in local television newscast, “Sons of Confederate Veterans clean controversial monument found vandalized.” WBIR (Knoxville), August 17, 2017.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in local television newscast, “UT Professor discusses Elvis Presley.” WBIR (Knoxville), August 16, 2017.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Why Knoxville doesn’t have Confederate monuments.” Knoxville News Sentinel, August 15, 2017.
• Quoted in magazine story, “Why yinz give directions using bygone landmarks is even more complicated than Pittsburgh’s roadways.” The Incline (Pittsburgh, PA), May 5, 2017.
• Research highlighted and quoted in newspaper story, “African-American Hall of Fame leaping from digital to Savannah storefront.” The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), January 18, 2017.
• Research highlighted in online news story, “Issues of race and money intersect in history of MLK Boulevard.” com, January 12. 2017.
• Contributed guest editorial to newspaper, “Where is geography in state social studies standards?” Knoxville News Sentinel, November 20, 2016, p. 3E.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Tension and Trust: Knoxville Police Work to Build Rapport with Black Community.” Knoxville News Sentinel, July 17, 2016.
• Quoted and presentation highlighted in newspaper article, “What’s in a name? Depends on why you ask.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), January 27, 2016, p. A1 & A5.
• Research highlighted in syndicated column, “At 30, MLK Jr. Holiday still inspires action.” Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 17, 2016.
• Contributed guest editorial to newspaper, “Diversity at UT vital to success of entire state.” Knoxville News Sentinel, December 12, 2015, p. 2B.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in local television newscast, “Remembering Rosa Parks on anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott.” WATE (Knoxville, TN). December 1, 2015.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “UT experts call for broader understanding of Rosa Parks.” Knoxville News Sentinel. December 1, 2015, p. 7A.
• Research highlighted and interviewed on television news story, “Hurricane Katrina Tattoos.” WBIR (Knoxville, TN). August 29, 2015.
• Interviewed on public radio show, “Confederate Place Names.” On Second Thought (Georgia Public Broadcasting). August 27, 2015.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Markers of the Storm: Professor at UT studies Katrina tattoos.” Knoxville News Sentinel. August 25, 2015, p. 7A.
• Contributed guest editorial to newspaper, “MLK’s Plan: Applying Nonviolence to All.” Knoxville Mercury, May 7, 2015, p. 9.
• Interviewed on public radio show, “Georgia’s Most Popular Street Name.” On Second Thought (Georgia Public Broadcasting). March 25, 2015.
• Research highlighted in television news story, “Gastonia City Council approves renaming street for MLK.” WCNC (Charlotte, NC). March 4, 2015.
• Interviewed and research highlighted on public radio show, “Faster than History.” WTSU on the Record (WMOT, Murfreesboro, TN). February 2, 2015.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in local television newscast, “Exploring Racial History Through Plantations.” WBIR (Knoxville, TN). January 21, 2015.
• Research highlighted in graphic snapshot, “The Making of MLK Day.” Winston-Salem (NC) Journal, January 19, 2015, p. A4.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in local television newscast, “UT professor shows how cities honor MLK through roads.” WBIR (Knoxville, TN). January 15, 2015.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Solid foundation / South Jersey locales reverberate MLK’s name and messages.” Press of Atlantic City (NJ). January 14, 2015, p. B1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online news article, “Researchers to analyze depiction of slavery at plantation sites.” com. January 13, 2015.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “How should a 1910 East Texas massacre be remembered?” Austin American-Statesman. December 28, 2014, p. A1.
• Contributed guest commentary to newspaper, “Wendell Scott deserves spot in NASCAR Hall of Fame.” The Tennessean, May 18, 2014.
• Research highlighted in guest column (by Calvin Smyre), “King Statue is Long Overdue.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 27, 2014, p. A14.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Republicans push honor for MLK – Proposed South Fulton city would be named for civil rights leader.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 29, 2014, p. 1B.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online newspaper article, “Bergen, Passaic counties planning memorials to Martin Luther King.” com , January 19, 2014.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Streets named for King defy the stereotype.” Orlando Sentinel January 19, 2014.
• Contributed guest commentary to newspaper, “Don’t dilute state K-12 geography standards.” Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 20, 2013, p. 3B.
• Guest on live, call-in radio show, “A Street for MLK?” Virginia Insight, WMRA (NPR Affiliate in Virginia), July 22, 2013 (3pm EST).
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “City hopes to improve neglected King Drive New stadium could be impetus to revitalize Atlanta corridor.” Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 8, 2013, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in magazine article, “Paving the Way.” Chatter Magazine (Chattanooga), April 1, 2013. Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Despite efforts, no street in North Dakota bears name of civil rights leader MLK.” Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota), January 21, 2013, p. A2.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Road to equality: History of MLK-named streets offer community insight” Knoxville News Sentinel, January 21, 2013, p. 1A &10A.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in radio story, “Trauma Tattoos in New Orleans.” WUOT (NPR station-Knoxville), January 5, 2013. Full interview available through Itunes.
• Contributed guest commentary to newspaper, “Putting the Street Naming Debate in Context.” Delaware State News, December 9, 2012, p. 6A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Last MLK Jr. sign put up along Marquette Street in Davenport.” Quad-City Times (Iowa), August 29, 2012, p. B1.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Bid to rename DeKalb road for MLK fails.” Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 13, 2012, p. B3.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Cocoa native driven to see street named for MLK.” Florida Today, June 27, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Plan Calls for MLK Corridor.” San Diego Union-Tribune, February 4, 2012, p. NIT-6.
• Research highlighted in newspaper column, “A Chief Finally Gets His Due in New Police Academy.” Macon (GA) Telegraph, January 25, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper editorial, “Building on MLK’s Legacy: Naming streets is one thing; seeking equality is another.” The Anniston (AL) Star, January 16, 2012, p. 8.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper column, “Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.: Safe Icon or Radical Organizer.” The Miami Herald, January 15, 2012.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online newspaper article, “Dr. King Honored Nationally with Street Name.” Chicago Examiner, January 13, 2012.
• Quoted in newspaper column, “Renaming the Street could be a Good Thing, If Done Right.” Indianapolis Star, September 25, 2011, p. B1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Effort to Rename Road for MLK Launching in DeKalb.” Atlanta Journal Constitution, September 12, 2011, p. 3B.
• Quoted and research highlighted in blog, “In Hawaii, No Martin Luther King Street.” Honolulu Civil Beat, August 28, 2011.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “With Street project, Spokane pays Tribute to King’s Legacy.” The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), January 17, 2011, p. A1.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “ECU to help create website on 1922 New Bern fire.” Sun Journal, December 30, 2010, p. 5.

• Quoted in newspaper article, “Festival Season Arrives in Eastern North Carolina.” Jacksonville (NC) Daily News, October 3, 2010, p. 5.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Plan to Rename Street for King Put Aside.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 8, 2010, p. B7.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Renaming a street is a common – and sometimes controversial – way to honor Martin Luther King Jr.” The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), February 26, 2010, Section: Today, p. 35.

• Quoted in newspaper article, “Building on a name; Structures honoring prominent African-Americans are scattered all over the state, but time can erode their significance.” The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), February 5, 2010, Section: Today, p. 35.
• Quoted and teaching highlighted in newspaper article, “Geographer receives award for excellence in teaching.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), May 3, 2009, Section: Community.
• Interviewed and book featured in radio story, “Civil Rights Memorials and the Geography of Memory.” Public Radio East (New Bern, NC), April 17, 2009.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Slave History Often Whitewashed.” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), February 11, 2009, p. 1A. (Article also appeared in Chicago Sun-Times).
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Travelers’ Check: Committee Wants More King Streets.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, February 2, 2009, Section: Northwest Arkansas.
• Quoted and research highlighted in magazine article, “King streets as diverse as nation.” The Chicago Reporter, January/February 2009, Volume 38, Issue 1, p. 5.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “MLK Jr. put us on the path to racial equality.” Philadelphia Inquirer, January 19, 2009.
• Research highlighted and book reviewed in blog article, “Martin Luther King Jr.: Memorials and Complexity.” Los Angeles Times, January 19, 2009.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Tuesday will make MLK Day extra special.” Tallahassee (FL) Democrat , January 17, 2009.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “ECU professor says location of civil rights memorials speaks volumes.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), December 30, 2008, A1& A7.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “A Road in Search of a Dream.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri), April 4, 2008, A1.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “MLK missing from the map.” Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), January 21, 2008, p. A1.
• Research highlighted in newspaper column, “Remembering the Young Dreamer.” The Macon (GA) Telegraph, January 21, 2008, p. 3.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “MLK streets up for the count.” St. Petersburg (FL) Times, January 21, 2008, p. 4E.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Worthy of a King?” Hernando Today (publication of Tampa Tribune), January 21, 2008.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Honoring an icon.” The Modesto (CA) Bee, January 18, 2008.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Geography Bee Tests Students’ Knowledge.” Rocky Mount (NC) Telegraph, January 11, 2008, Section: Main.
• Quoted extensively in newspaper question and answer piece, “Race, identity complicate name debates.” The Oregonian (Portland, OR), December 6, 2007, Section: Metro Portland Neighbors: In Portland; p. 14.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “What’s in a name?”   The Oregonian (Portland, OR), December 6, 2007, Section: Metro Portland Neighbors: In Portland; p. 12.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Chavez: Time for Healing?” St. Johns Sentinel (Portland, OR), December 2007, pp. 1 & 21.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Wakulla still can’t abide naming a road for MLK.” Tallahassee (FL) Democrat, November 24, 2007, p. 1B & 4B.
• Quoted in magazine article, “Cesar’s way: Changing N. Interstate Ave’s name doesn’t do justice to Cesar E. Chavez.” Portland (OR) Monthly, November 2007, p. 66-67.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Chavez controversy coast to coast.” St. Johns Sentinel (Portland, OR), November 2007, pp. 1 & 22.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “King Drive businesses keeping leader’s dream alive.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 10, 2007, p. D1.
• Quoted in newswire story, “Civil war to civil rights, South works to honor past with names.” Associated Press, March 12, 2007.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in television news story, “Driving the Dream: Part Two.” WTHR (NBC-Indianapolis), March 1, 2007. (http://www.wthr.com/)
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Streets of Dreams: Roadways named for MLK show personality and diversity of cities.” The Beaumont (TX) Enterprise, Jan. 14, 2007, D1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “MLK Avenue: Route of racial Divide.” Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, FL), January 14, 2007, p.A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “MLK streets’stigma all wrong, study says.” Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), January 14, 2007, p.B1.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Lawmaker wants McKinney’s name off road.” Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2007, A13.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Debate over MLK street name goes back 17 years: Many areas struggle to honor King with a street, professor says.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), August 26, 2006, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Expert discusses issue of renaming streets.” The Ithaca Journal, April 12, 2006, p. 1B.

• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Road debate resurfaces” Florida Today, March 27, 2006, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Work continues on MLK street naming project.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), March 25, 2006, p. B1 & B3.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Tarboro balks at MLK street-renaming proposal.” Rocky Mount (NC) Telegram, March 16, 2006.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “It’s a bumpy road for King.” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), March 12, 2006, p. B1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Street name session draws crowd.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), February 28, 2006, p. A1 & A9.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Streets honor King nationwide.” Long Beach Press Telegram, February 20, 2006, p. A10.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Idea to rename street gets mixed reaction.” Winston-Salem Journal, February 17, 2006, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard? Not on the Shore.” Delmarva Daily Times, February 5, 2006, p. 1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Construction, fresh paint on the rise; illegal activities down.” Lexington Herald-Leader, January 16, 2006, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Seeking the right road for King.” The Charlotte Observer, January 16, 2006, p. 1B.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “King of Streets: Civil-rights icon has hundreds named for him.” Winston-Salem Journal, January 15, 2006, p. E4.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Lynching a painful part of area’s past.” Online Athens (GA), June 26, 2005.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Streets of dreams: Martin Luther King Jr.” name spreads across U.S.” The South Florida Sun Sentinel, January 17, 2005,
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Avenues to Dream: Streets named for Martin Luther Jr. range from a tiny stretch in Columbus to major arteries in other big cities.” The Columbus Dispatch, January 17, 2005, p. 1A.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Strongest street in town: MLK Parkway in D.M. said to be fitting tribute to leader’s legacy.” Des Moines Register, January 16, 2005, p. 1B.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Why no Charlotte street in King’s honor? Politics and location issues.” The Charlotte Post, January 13, 2005, p. E2.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Demarcation Line: Race, class divide along railway in Greenville.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), January 24, 2005, p. B1.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “A road for Doctor King?” Kentucky Post, December 22, 2004.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Debate extends to state, nation: Renaming roads often gets heated.” The Daily Tar Heel (Student Newspaper of UNC-Chapel Hill), December 3, 2004.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “What’s in a name?” As part of special feature on the politics of place-naming. The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 1, 2004, pp. 21A & 22A.
• Quoted extensively in newspaper question and answer piece, “It’s all about power and whose history is told” as part of special feature on the politics of place-naming. The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 1, 2004, pp. 21A & 22A.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in live radio talk show on renaming a street after Martin Luther King in Chapel Hill, NC.  The State of Things (WUNC Radio), June 23, 2004, 12:00 pm.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “City leaders lament timing of visit by MLK expert.” The Grand Rapids (MI) Press, June 17, 2004, p. A1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “MLK debate follows U.S. trends.” The Daily Tar Heel (Student Newspaper of UNC-Chapel Hill), June 3, 2004, p. 4.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in live radio talk show, “Martin Luther King Boulevards.” ABC Radio News Detroit: WJR, (Frank Beckmann Show) May 11, 2004.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in live radio talk show, “MLK Street Naming in Zephyrhills, FL.” New Black City Radio (St. Louis, MO), May 10, 2004.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article,” MLK streets racially divided.” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), January 19, 2004, 1A & 8A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Proposal to rename corridor.” The Kentucky Post, January 19, 2004 (http://www.kypost.com/2004/01/19/mlk011904.html)
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Street Renaming Hits Potholes.” Tampa (FL) Tribune, November 2, 2003, Pasco, Pg. 1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “King Road renaming pits blacks vs. Latinos.” The Mercury News (San Jose, CA), October 26, 2003, p. 1A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Crusade for King Blvd. may be nearing success.” Sacramento (CA) Bee, August 19, 2003, A1 & A14.
• Quoted in newspaper article, “Slavery’s Legacy Lingering in Florida.” Jacksonville Free Press, June 11, 2003, p. 1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Signposts of honor, Many Hub streets recognize prominent African-Americans.” The Boston Herald, February 25, 2003, Arts & Life, page 49.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Changing Centennial: Renaming idea to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. gets mixed reaction.” The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), February 10, 2003, 1A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper articles, “Activists recall the struggle to rename a boulevard for Martin Luther King, Jr.” and “Cities large and small renamed streets for civil rights leader.” Sacramento (CA) Bee, February 3, 2003, E1 & E5.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “With King street’s naming, one journey ends, another begins.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), January 20, 2003, 1B.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “King Tributes Showcase Community’s Identity.” The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, January 20, 2003, 1A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Group Dreams of Street Named Only for King.” The Tampa Tribune, January 13, 2003, 1A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “The Main Streets of Black America.” The Miami (Florida) Herald, January 12, 2003, 1A.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “A School fit for a King.” Speakin’ Out News (Huntsville, AL), August 27, 2002, p. 1.

• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Tributes fit for King.” Roanoke (Virginia) Times & World News, March 14, 2002. Extra, p 1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “St. Paul searching for MLK street: Push to honor civil-rights leader may take a few turns.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 6, 2002. p B1.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “A View from MLK Blvd.” Trenton (NJ) Times, January 21, 2002. p A1.
• Live radio interview (with Tom Hughes), First News, News Radio 640 WGST (Atlanta), January 21, 2002.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Education board to consider names for new school.” The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), January 14, 2002, A1 & A7.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “NAACP wants Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue moved.” The St. Petersburg (FL) Times, August 31, 2001, p. 7.
• Quoted and research highlighted in radio news story, “Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Highpoint, North Carolina.” WFDD 88.5 FM (Winston-Salem), July 31, 2001.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Cities struggle with MLK memorials: Opposition to new street names crosses color lines.” The Toledo (OH) Blade, March 23, 2001, p. 8A.
• Research highlighted in newspaper editorial “One Wilson slogan should extend to MLK Parkway,” The Wilson (NC) Daily Times, January 27, 2001, p. 11A.
• Quoted and research highlighted in radio news story, “Martin Luther King Streets,” WUNC 91.5 FM News (Chapel Hill), January 15, 2001.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article “Story of a Street: How Tallahassee’s Boulevard Street became a tribute to the dream,” Tallahassee (FL) Democrat, January 17, 1999, p. 1A.
• Teaching highlighted in newspaper column “Kudzu, the King, and Wal-Marts” (by Ed Grisamore), The Macon (GA) Telegraph, August 18, 1999, p. 1B.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article “Researching the King’s Court: GC&SU professor researches diverse interests with a common thread,” The Union-Recorder (Milledgeville, GA), September 25-27, 1999, p. 1B.
• Interviewed and research highlighted in newspaper article, “Black leaders angry over Statesboro street name law,” Savannah (GA) Morning News, May 22, 1997, p.1A.

University Level Media and Professional Newsletters

• Quoted and research featured in student campus newspaper, “Geography professor Derek Alderman asks, can mapping help fight racism?” Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee), September 24, 2021.
• Quoted and research featured in student campus newspaper, “UT researchers analyze case study of street named after white supremacist, publish paper.” Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee), January 16, 2019.

• Research featured in student campus newspaper, “UT professor’s project prioritizes streets named after Martin Luther King Jr.” Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee), January 28, 2018.
• Research featured in university magazine, “Racing Against Racism.” Quest: Research, Scholarship, Creative Activity (University of Tennessee), fall/winter 2016, pp. 8-11.
• Research featured in online university newsletter, “Hurricane Tattoos Form of Coping and Storytelling Ten Years Later.” Tennessee Today (University of Tennessee), August 25, 2015.
• Research featured in online university newsletter, “Professor Uses Plantations to Examine Race in America.”  Tennessee Today (University of Tennessee), January 12, 2015.
• Research featured in university magazine, “Street Politics: Discrimination is Still Causing Roadblocks.” Quest: Research, Scholarship, Creative Activity (University of Tennessee), spring/summer 2014, pp. 6-9.
• Quoted and research highlighted in online university newsletter, “UT Professor Studies How Streets Are Named for Martin Luther King Jr.” Tennessee Today (University of Tennessee), January 18, 2013.
• Teaching and research featured in university magazine, “The Map Man.” East Magazine (East Carolina Publication),winter 2012, p. 32-35.
• Quoted and keynote address highlighted in faculty and staff newsletter, “ECU Holds Fall Commencement.” Pieces of Eight (East Carolina Publication), December 21, 2009.
• Quoted and keynote address highlighted in faculty and staff newsletter, “Alderman Shares Thoughts on Teaching as Place-Creating.” Pieces of Eight (East Carolina Publication), Sept. 4, 2009, p. 11.
• Quoted and research highlighted in magazine profile, “Symbols of the South: Geographer Derek Alderman Studies Memorials and More.”  Edge (East Carolina University Publication), spring 2009, p. 12-15.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newsletter, “Kansas State and VGSP Commemorate MLK Week.” AAG Newsletter, March 2007, p. 4.
• Research highlighted in newspaper article, “Fifth Street may soon become MLK, Jr. Street.” The East Carolinian, March 2, 2006, p. A1 & A2.
• Quoted and research highlighted in newspaper article, “ECU professor dedicates nearly decade to studying streets named after martin Luther King Jr.” The East Carolinian, January 19, 2005, p. A1.
• Research highlighted in newsletter article, “Derek Alderman Serves as National Consultant on the Politics of Street Naming.” Cornerstone (Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, ECU publication), winter 2004, pp. 2-3.
• Research highlighted in magazine article, “What’s in a Name? Controversy,” Edge (East Carolina University Publication), spring 2002, p. 21
• Research highlighted in magazine article, “The Symbol War,” The Southerner: Georgia Southern University Magazine, spring-summer 1996, p.11