Charles Athanasopoulos is a writer, teacher, art reviewer, and advocate for Puerto Rican independence, Romani self-determination, and prison abolition.

As of Fall 2024, he serves as Assistant Professor of Black Rhetoric & Popular Culture at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Athanasopoulos’ research operates at the intersection of Black studies, Caribbean studies, and Critical Romani Studies which filter his broad engagement with rhetoric, media, and culture. His research traverses the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Greece reflecting his own unique Afro-Nuyorican and Greek-Roma upbringing.

His first book project, Black Iconoclasm: Public Symbols, Racial Progress, and Post/Ferguson America examines conflicting messages surrounding Black liberation in post/Ferguson America across activism, Black radical theory, communicative situations, cinema, and street art.

As an advocate, he co-founded the Puerto Rican Independence Party’s (PIP) diasporic Washington State chapter. He spent two years serving as President of PIP-WA organizing scholarly panels, teach-ins, fundraising efforts, and networking with other independentistas. He continues to be an active member of the Party.

As of Spring 2025, he became an Associate Member of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC).

In March 2025, alongside Dr. VN Trinh and Dr. Corinne Mitsuye Sugino, he co-founded the CCAC (Columbus Community Abolition Collective). The CCAC is a newly emerging reading- and discussion-based study group on prison abolition and radical politics open to the public which convenes monthly. Follow the CCAC on Instagram @Abolition.Cbus.

Dr. Athanasopoulos holds a B.A. from Wake Forest University in the Study of Religions as well as a M.A. & Ph.D. from University of Pittsburgh in Rhetoric & Communication.