An exploration of the African-American experience in the United States from the time of the Atlantic Slave Trade to the present. Topics include social and political dynamics shaping African-American history with particular attention focused on Reconstruction, the Great Migration, and the Civil Rights Movement. Numerous African-American leaders and their concepts for an African-American identity are also emphasized, including the W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington debates, as well as speeches from Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
HHS 371:Modern US Presidency and the Legislative Process
An exploration of the modern American political experience from the turn of the twentieth century to the present. This course examines the historical significance of the American policymaking process. Discussions center on presidential administrations, Congress and political parties addressing domestic agendas and policies. Highlighted eras promoting government activism include Progressivism, New Dealism, Great Society measures and recent political proposals.
This course explores the modern economic and political development of China, Korea, and Japan from the late nineteenth century to the present and responses to Western imperialism. The rise of Chinese and Korean communism and Japanese fascism during the twentieth century are especially emphasized. There is also a close examination and comparison of development in additional Asian countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
HPL 345:Introduction to Minority Group Identity and Legal Theory
Theories, tactics, goals, and impact or organized minorities and how they relate and transform the American political sphere; groups studied include African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Indians, and other politically marginalized minorities. Court decisions and legal precedents of mentioned groups in case law are closely examined in this course.
HHS 370:US Constitutional Law I: Early Foundations and Federalism
An historical and theorectical analysis of the Constitutional Convention, the US Constitution, its foundations, conceptual and idealistic basis for the national government.The decision-making and policymaking roles of the US Supreme Court through case law is closely examined as it relates to governmental powers and federalism.
An historical analysis of post World War II suburban-urban growth policies. Examines the successes and failures of developmental proposals, especially social and environmental implications of Federal Housing Administrative incentives: de-facto segregation, commercial-residential sprawl; Smart Growth; New Urbanism and other high density concepts. Urban redevelopment policies, include brownfield, waterfront sites and the public provision of cultural and tourism infrastructure; incentives to promote gentrification; historic preservation; mixed income/community feasibility; and economic development policies, such as business improvement, tax abatements, enterprise zones and transit villages.
This course offers perspectives utilized in the analysis and evaluation of public policymaking and policy results. Policy approaches include cost-benefit allocations, budgetary procedures and feasibility impact studies. Normative constraints and political implications of systematic policy analysis are also examined, particularly in relation to public infrastructure projects.
HSS 127:Introduction to Political Science I: National Government
An introduction to the evolution and operation of the U.S. federal government. This course focuses on problems in energy policy, foreign policy, elections, and civil rights.
HSS 128:Introduction to Political Science II: Judicial Process
A survey of the evolution of juries and recent legal and social scientific analysis of jury rules. Case studies are used to explain the scope of issues decided by juries and conceptions of justice used to evaluate their performance.
HHS 373:US Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
An historical and political analysis of the US Constitution as it relates to civil liberties and civil rights.The decision-making and policymaking roles of the US Supreme Court through case law in these areas are closely examined.
School: College of Arts & Letters
Department: Social Sciences / History
Research & Education
Research
Urban politics (community development, gentrification, racial politics), coalition politics, legislative process (federal, state, local), public policy analysis and modern US political history.
Education
BA, History & MPA, Howard University, 1996 & 1999 Asia Study Abroad, George Mason University, Summers 1996-97 MA, History (US Diplomatic History), Rutgers University, 2002 Ph.D., Political Science, Howard University, 2008
Experience & Service
Institutional Service
Pre-law Advisor for the Pre-law and Public Policy program; committee member of the Green Engineering program and the Gender and Cultural Studies program.
Faculty advisor to the Stevens Law Society, Stevens College Republicans, Stevens Sailing Team, Torch Society (LGBTQ) and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Professional Service
Historic Paulus Hook Association, board of directors/board secretary and member of Parks and Development Oversight committees.
Hudson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and Strategic Revitalization Committee, member.
WGBO 88.3 FM National Public Radio, Community Advisory Board member/board secretary.
Served as congressional aide for U.S. Reps. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Glenn Poshard (D-IL) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Research Analyst for the New Jersey State Legislature/Office of Legislative Services.
Provided governmental relations and research for the National Minority AIDS Council, National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, Council of Graduate Schools, National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the Eagleton Institute of Politics/Newark Student Voices high school local politics voting project.
Achievements & Professional Societies
Professional Societies
American Historical Association American Political Science Association Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honors Society Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society
Honors & Awards
2011 Stevens Alumni Association, Outstanding Teacher 2009 Sigma Phi Epsilon, Volunteer of the Year, NE Region 2007-08 Most Distinguished Professor, SGA (1st annual) 2006-07 Outstanding Advisor Award, Office of Student Life
Selected Publications
Books
Wharton, J. (2013). A Change Is Gonna Come: Newark, Cory Booker and the Transformation of Urban America, Palgrave-Macmillan.
Book Chapters
Wharton, J. (2010). "Unique Policymaking in Action: The District Council and the Legislative Process", Law and Politics in Washington, DC, Abdul Karim Bangura, ed.
Wharton, J. (2005). "The Pitch for Baseball: Washington's Plan for the Nationals' Stadium and Its Implications", Washington DC's Challenges, Abdul Karim Bangura, ed.
Journals
Wharton, J. (2009). "Gentrification: The New Colonialism in the Modern Era", Journal of the Oxford University Round Table: Forum on Public Policy, Summer 2008 ed.
Conference Proceedings
Wharton, J. (2012). "Live Where You Teach? Assessing Downtown Newark's Teachers Village and Residential Redevelopment for Urban Educators", Urban Systems Conference, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ.
Wharton, J. (2011). "Abatement Addiction: A Case Study on Jersey City's Municipal Tax Abatements, Urban Gentrification and Politics of Rights", American Political Science Association conference paper and presentation, Seattle, WA.
Wharton, J. (2008). "Academia's Fiduciary Responsibility: Substantive University Relations, Local Politics and Community Gentrification", Yale University Bouchet Society, New Haven, CT.
Wharton, J. (2008). "A New Way of Going About It? Tracing Racial Identity, Uncertain Color-blind Coalition Building and the Post-Civil Rights Generational Politics of Barack Obama and Cory Booker", National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Chicago, IL.
