Dr. Kim Scipes of Purdue University Northwest has lived a life defined by transformation, advocacy, and commitment to social justice. From his humble beginnings to his influential career as a global labor scholar, educator, and activist, Scipes has illustrated the transformative power of critical thinking and compassionate action. His journey proves the impact one person can have on the world by promoting critical thinking and empowering others to make meaningful changes.
Born and raised in Coolidge, Arizona, a farming town with a population of about 5,000, Scipes’s early life took a dramatic turn when his stepfather’s job as a guard led the family to live on Alcatraz Island for a few years. He decided to join the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War at just 17 years old which would fundamentally reshape his worldview. Initially seeking the best training possible for what he thought was a just cause, Scipes soon found himself immersed in an unexpected role.
“The Marine Corps was deeply racist at the time – there were race riots on just about every major base in 1971,” Scipes said. “My Gunnery Sergeant handed me a stack of radical literature and said, ‘If you’re going to be any good to us, you need to know what’s going on.’”
For 18 months, Scipes worked alongside these Marines to challenge white supremacy and institutional racism within the military. That experience was compounded when Scipes read the Pentagon Papers while on active duty, revealing a troubling reality about the Vietnam War.
“That was a bombshell - it revealed that not only was everything we’d been told about Vietnam a lie, but it was a deliberate lie,” he said. “I decided I couldn’t participate in that anymore. That was the beginning of my activism.”
After leaving the Marines, Scipes pursued higher education. He earned his master’s degree from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, where he studied with students from over 120 countries and his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His global perspective deepened as he conducted extensive field research on labor movements, particularly in the Philippines, and taught at Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam. He then pursued a career that blended scholarship, teaching, and advocacy. He joined Purdue University Northwest in 2004, where he became a cornerstone of the university’s sociology department.
“I was hired to teach a course called Race and Ethnic Diversity, and I taught it 57 times over my 18 and a half years there,” he said. “Westville, where Purdue Northwest's campus is, is a rural and parochial area. Many students had limited exposure to people of color.”
During his 18½ years at Purdue Northwest, Scipes taught 57 semesters of Race and Ethnic Diversity and numerous sociology courses, striving to connect local issues with global perspectives. He highlighted environmental challenges in Northern Indiana, such as pollution in East Chicago and agricultural runoff contributing to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, stressing how systemic issues impact marginalized communities.
Scipes’s teaching philosophy centers on engagement and critical thinking. In his Environment and Social Justice course, he challenged students to connect academic research with real-world action. Assignments included a public panel where students presented their research on topics like climate change and environmental racism.
By encouraging students to explore diverse perspectives, Scipes created an inclusive classroom environment. He urged them to question assumptions, develop their own worldviews, and consider how their knowledge could create positive change.
“The United States has always been part of a global project, but we’re not taught that,” he said. “For example, climate change is a global phenomenon, but it’s already affecting people here in Northwest Indiana, and it’s only going to get worse. I tried to bridge that gap for students, showing them how global issues like climate change or systemic racism have direct local impacts.”
Scipes is a renowned global labor scholar who has published four books and over 275 articles in journals and magazines across 12 countries. His second book, “AFL-CIO’s Secret War Against Developing Country Workers: Solidarity or Sabotage?,” has been cited over 100 times.
“I’d say my second book has had the most impact,” he said. “It examines the foreign policy of AFL-CIO leadership, exposing how their operations have often worked against global labor solidarity,” he said. “That book’s been cited over 100 times in scholarly literature, so I’m proud of the contribution it’s made.”
When giving advice to emerging scholars and activists, Scipes noted the importance of curiosity as emerging scholars and activists find their path to activism.
“Expose yourself to as much as possible,” he said. “What gets your blood racing? Dive into that, because even if it’s not what you stick with, it will lead you to something else. Get out of Northwest Indiana, out of the country if you can. It’s not as expensive as people think, and it opens your eyes to entirely new perspectives. You learn that not everyone sees the world the same way we do in the U.S., and that’s incredibly valuable.”
Even in retirement, Scipes remains active as a scholar and advocate. In 2023, he attended the World Congress of Sociology in Melbourne, Australia, where he organized a session, chaired two others, and presented a paper. He also received the Purdue Northwest Outstanding Faculty Engagement Award in recognition of his service to both the university and the broader community.
Looking to the future, Scipes continues to advocate critical thinking and collaboration.
“I hope my students learned to think critically about life – about everything,” he said. “I want them to define success on their own terms, have good lives, and contribute positively to their communities,” he said. “Most people have talents and skills far beyond what they’re told they’re capable of. I want them to develop those skills, go beyond the limits imposed by others, and make a real impact on the world.”
Through his teaching, writing, and activism, Scipes has devoted his life to empowering others to think critically, engage with the world, and strive for a more just and equitable society. He remains hopeful about his journey and the potential for meaningful change.
“With experiences and possibilities like this, how can you not be excited about the world?” he asked.
Scipes’ life and work illustrate the impact of curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to social justice. From his transformative experiences in the Marine Corps to his long-term career as a scholar, he has consistently challenged systems of inequality and inspired others to think critically about their role in creating a better world. Scipes has made it his mission to encourage connections across divides and promote collective action. As he continues his journey, he leaves behind a legacy of academic achievement and communities empowered to embrace the power of change.