Dr. Mark Cohen to Work on New Book About Racism

October 24, 2005

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ Dr. Mark Cohen, distinguished professor in the Anthropology Department at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, is currently working on a new book concerning both racism and science in the United States.

Cohen, who teaches such topics as human evolution, race, culture and disease, is working on a prospectus for his book, tentatively titled, Immortal Serpent: 'Scientific' Racism in the 21st Century .

Cohen has given more than 100 public talks at nearly 60 colleges and universities around the world, including a Fulbright Fellowship to Israel.

"I have worked and traveled with people of a wide range of colors, both here and abroad, and have seen how well they think and function in contexts relevant to their lives," Cohen said. "My goal in my writings concerning race issues is to debunk some of the 'scientific studies' promoting racism."

Next semester, Cohen will be a fellow at the Institute for Ethics in Public Life.

This opportunity will reduce his course load, giving him the chance to work on his book. The expected publication date is in 2008.

Cohen's teaching career began at SUNY Plattsburgh in 1971.

"I interact with a great variety of people on campus. I'm proud of Plattsburgh in terms of the environment it seems to have created for students of color," said Cohen

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