Donald E. DeVore has a Ph.D. in American history from Louisiana State University with a specialization in American and African American history. He is a professor of history and joined the University of South Alabama faculty in 2006. Previous professional experiences include associate professor of history at Louisiana State University, executive director of the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and dean of the Evening and Weekend College at Southern University at New Orleans.

In addition to survey courses in United States history, he teaches upper-level courses in African American history, modern United States history, and research seminars in American history. His graduate courses include the Teaching of History and Archival Practice.  

Professor DeVore is the author of Defying Jim Crow: African American Community Development and the Struggle for Racial Equality in New Orleans, 1900-1960. He is co-author of Crescent City Schools:  Public Education in New Orleans, 1841-1991. The book has been used by educators, policymakers, and teacher education students. His current research project examines the origins and development of black public colleges from 1865 to 1970, with an initial focus on several Lower South states such as Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.