Blunt's research focuses on the origins of and developments within the black civil rights movement in the 20th century and its current and future implications on politics, society and economics. His speech is titled "A Historical Review of the Civil Rights Movement: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?"

Blunt has more than 33 years' experience in the corporate world and in 2005 retired as senior vice president of mortgage lending for Bank of America. Earlier, he served as one of two national directors in the Emerging Markets Division for Wells Fargo Bank. He currently is executive vice president of Consolidated Resource Partners, a real estate development and consulting company that specializes in providing housing for senior citizens.

Christopher Martin, visiting professor in the Department of Political Science, said Blunt will discuss the civil rights movement dating back to the 1920s, when blacks were lynched, beaten and regularly discriminated against in job and housing searches.

"Many of our students don't have an appreciation of the many lives that were laid down during the civil rights movement to get to the point we are in race relations in America," Martin said. "Carl is a unique individual who brings passion and a businessman's intellect to this history."

Blunt holds a doctorate in history from Redding University in California. In addition to his professional affiliations, he serves as the second-ranking officer, the first vice grand basileus, in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

His visit is co-sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Multicultural Programs.