Derrick Hudson

Derrick Hudson is a Teaching Professor in International Relations in the Department of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at Colorado School of Mines. He earned his B.S. degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and doctorate from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. In addition to teaching courses across the entire undergraduate curriculum, Dr. Hudson also teaches courses in the department’s graduate program, Natural Resources and Energy Policy (NREP). Dr. Hudson’s major academic interests are in African political economy, international politics, U.S. foreign policy, political theory, urban studies, religious and secular studies, religion and politics, moral psychology, environmental and engineering ethics, and Ethnic Studies. Dr. Hudson has taught at the University of Michigan, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver, Colorado Christian University, and American Pathways University.  Dr. Hudson’s most recent book, co-edited with Dr. Steven Roach (University of South Florida), focused on post-secessionist dynamics in South Sudan (The Challenge of Governance in South Sudan Routledge, 2019).  Dr. Hudson’s most recent research interests will explore the geopolitics of the Nile River Basin, with focus on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), one of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams and the largest in Africa.  The GERD, once filled, will be a geopolitical game changer with regard to water politics in the horn of Africa and the Gulf States.

Most recently, Dr. Hudson has led efforts to promote initiatives on diversity, inclusion and access at Mines. Currently serving at both the department and university levels, Dr. Hudson was a Diversity, Inclusion, and Access (DI&A) Fellow in 2021-2022. During that time, Dr. Hudson led efforts to develop initiatives on Agency, Race, Citizenship, and Society (ARCS). The mission and vision of ARCS to foster dialogue on deepening understanding of the intersections of agency, race/ethnicity, citizenship, and society and how to facilitate strategies to confront systemic barriers in American institutions, political structures, and the economy. Two specific projects that Dr. Hudson led were an experiential course on ARCS which partnered selected Mines students with students at a local nonprofit, the Issachar Center for Urban Leadership and the recruitment of a local scholar activist who served as the inaugural Activist in Residence Scholar in HASS.

Beginning in 2021, Dr. Hudson, along with members of the President’s Council for DI&A began conversations with Newmont Mining to think about a comprehensive strategy to promote DI&A efforts at Mines.  One of the initiatives that was selected for funding support was a $100,000 donation to recruit a select number of STEM faculty who would commit to incorporating some aspect of equity and justice into existing STEM curriculum.  Spearheaded by Dr. Hudson, these Newmont STEM Equity Faculty Fellows have been selected for AY2022-2023.  STEM Faculty Fellows will be supported as they integrate equity, social, political, and other societal aspects into STEM curriculum. Nine Fellows have been chosen and span across several departments at Mines, to include Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Design, and Society (EDS), Economics and Business (EB), Mining, The Library, and Mechanical Engineering. Ultimately this program will support the development of an Engineering Equity Center (EEC) NSF proposal, which will be a hallmark program on the Mines campus and a model nationally for how to implement equitable and inclusive teaching at major STEM universities.

Curriculum Vitae

Courses taught:

HASS 100:         Nature and Human Values
HASS 200:         Global Studies (Politics and Culture versions)
HASS 221:         Religion in the Age of Globalization
HASS 344:         International Relations
HASS 341:         Africa: Politics and Society
HASS 431:         Moral Psychology, Religion, and American Society
HASS 441/535: African Development (in-person and fully online)
HASS 550:         Political Risk Assessment