Charles Gentry

Dr. Charles Gentry is a versatile interdisciplinary scholar who works as a Lecturer in the Johns Hopkins University Cultural Heritage Management (CHM) Program. He received a doctoral degree from the University of Michigan in American Culture and a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in American Studies. Dr. Gentry leads a two-week graduate student seminar that provides CHM students with a background in theory and application of site-based heritage management practices, exploring the wide variety of disciplines, stakeholders, and values involved in the day-to-day activities of the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site. He also teaches in the African American Studies Program and the UTSA Department of History at UTSA and is a researcher with the UTSA Center for Cultural Sustainability.

Dr. Gentry’s interests include African American history, film and media studies, performance studies, arts management, and cultural policy. His current research includes an examination of the history of segregation in San Antonio, its impact on African American communities on the city’s Eastside, and the potential outcomes of recent urban development policies and planning initiatives that focus on equity and inclusion. He is also conducting research to support efforts seeking historic landmark designations for properties associated with African American heritage in San Antonio and other regions of Texas. As a curator at the Flint Institute of Arts in Michigan, Dr. Gentry managed the multipurpose theater and expanded the programming schedule of a seasonal film series into a year-round film and video exhibition program. He also coordinated educational programs and special events with museum volunteers, local universities, arts organizations, and other community groups. As an independent consultant, Dr. Gentry has advised nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and local small businesses, including the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, The Magik Theatre, and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM).

A San Antonio native, Dr. Gentry is a Certified Tourism Ambassador, World Heritage Ambassador, high school lacrosse coach, and community volunteer. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Food Policy Council of San Antonio and Hope House Ministries, and is a co-founder of Teatro Anansi, which creates community theater for inter-generational audiences, develops educational programs, and sustains multicultural traditions of storytelling. Dr. Gentry was awarded the Community Engagement Award by the NAACP San Antonio Chapter in May 2019.