Educator and philosopher Cornel West is the Class of 1943 University Professor at Princeton University. Known as one of America’s most gifted, provocative, and important public intellectuals, he is the author of the contemporary classic Race Matters, which changed the course of America’s dialogue on race and justice, the New York Times best seller Democracy Matters, and Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom. He is the recipient of the American Book Award and holds more than 20 honorary degrees.