Ron Krabill

Ron Krabill is a Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell and the Inaugural Director of the Global Sport Lab in the Jackson School of International Studies at UW Seattle. A scholar of media and cultural studies, his work explores the intersections of media, politics, and human rights—particularly in South Africa—as well as critical pedagogy, international education, and the global politics of soccer.

He is the author of Starring Mandela and Cosby: Media and the End(s) of Apartheid (University of Chicago Press, 2010) and co-editor of Feminist Interventions in Participatory Media: Pedagogy, Publics, Practice (Routledge, 2018). A UW faculty member since 2002, Krabill is a recipient of the UW Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Teaching for Teams Award for his work co-founding and co-directing the UWB Global Scholars Program, which expands access to international education for marginalized students.

Building on his research in South Africa, Krabill led a UW study abroad program to the 2010 World Cup, partnering with the Seattle Sounders, Cape Town Community Television, the University of Cape Town, and local media activists to produce and broadcast short documentaries on the Cup’s impact in Cape Town. He has since directed six additional study abroad programs focused on the politics of soccer, including trips to Spain, France during the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and Rwanda in 2023.

As Director of the Global Sport Lab, Krabill is advancing UW’s leadership in critical sport studies while expanding public programming and civic engagement around the intersection of sports and social justice.

Events are offered for informational, entertainment, and educational purposes only. Read Town Hall’s Program Content Policy.