At the Colin Powell School, we believe that learning should go beyond the classroom—connecting theory to real-world change. Few faculty embody that philosophy more fully than Dr. Lindsay Zafir, whose teaching sits at the intersection of social movements, gender and sexuality studies, and the history of science. Her journey weaves together public service, academic research, labor organizing, and a deep commitment to social justice. We sat down with Dr. Zafir to learn more about her path, her work, and how she brings activism and scholarship together in powerful ways.
A native of Sacramento, California, Dr. Zafir moved to New York more than two decades ago to attend NYU. After earning her degree, she spent four years working in the NYC Mayor’s Office—but history kept calling. “When I was right out of college, I did an oral history project on NYC’s gay liberation movement that you can still find online,” she recalls.
That passion led her to pursue a PhD in History, where she deepened her academic interests and got involved in labor organizing. “I took time off from grad school to work full-time as a union organizer,” she says. Later, she served as editor of The Forge: Organizing Strategy and Practice, a publication focused on building power through grassroots strategy. “I love working at the Powell School because it allows me to bring all of my interests—organizing, social movement history, gender and sexuality studies—together in one place.”
Dr. Zafir traces her academic path back to a formative course she took her very first semester of college. “It was called Intersections: Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class in U.S. History and Politics, taught by Lisa Duggan,” she says. “It changed the way I thought about how the world worked. I became a History and Gender & Sexuality Studies major and haven’t looked back since.”
Today, Dr. Zafir continues to straddle the worlds of academia and activism. “I’m a historian, and my academic work focuses on the history of science, social movements, and gender and sexuality,” she explains. But her interests don’t end there. “I’m also deeply invested in social movements and remain engaged outside of academia.”
Her current research reflects this commitment. She’s working on a book about the history of HIV/AIDS denialism as a case study in understanding today’s rise in science skepticism. “The project looks at why people embrace science denialism and how institutional failures—from government to media to biomedicine—have contributed to the spread of misinformation,” she says.
For Dr. Zafir, the Colin Powell School offered a rare opportunity to teach across disciplines while staying connected to organizing work. “I get to teach classes on gender and sexuality, science studies, and social movement history—all under one roof,” she says. “And through the Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice Fellowship, I work with current and future organizers, which keeps me grounded in movement work. I feel really lucky to be in a place that values interdisciplinary teaching and public engagement.”
Dr. Zafir’s upcoming plans reflect her deep investment in both scholarship and student leadership. She recently completed an oral history project on the community organizing group ACORN, and is continuing work on her book. In the classroom, she’s teaching Social Movement History for LDSJ Fellows and Queer and Feminist Theory and Practice through the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the campus’s new Planned Parenthood Generation Action club.
Without hesitation, Dr. Zafir points to the people. “My students are curious and engaged, and the faculty and staff are incredibly committed to what they do,” she says. “The people are what make the Colin Powell School special.”
Dr. Zafir’s journey reminds us of the power of combining rigorous scholarship with real-world action. Her work continues to inspire students—and all of us—to think critically, act boldly, and stay connected to the communities we aim to serve.
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