Bell, Wendell, 2009 June 23

Yale Sociology Professor

Wendell Bell received a B.A. in 1948 from Fresno State College, and a Ph.D. in 1952 from the University of California, Los Angeles. After teaching at Northwestern and UCLA, he was appointed Lamont Lecturer at Yale 1962-63. Yale appointed him professor of sociology in 1963. He served as chair of the department 1965-69; Director, Comparative Sociology Training Program, 1969-77 (established a graduate program involving research abroad); Director of Undergraduate Studies, 1976-83 (reorganized undergraduate curriculum); Director of Graduate Studies, 1984-89 & 1994. In addition he helped establish the Yale Program, now Department, of African American Studies, served on its executive and advisory committees, and taught joint courses in its programs of study for many years.