I met Reg in 2005, he was my master's and dissertation advisor, mentor, and friend. Reg had a great impact on my life, I am still processing how much. Long after graduate school, Reg showed care and interest in my life. He referred to himself jokingly as "uncle Reg" to my kids. I will always miss him.

Reg loved students and teaching as much as he loved writing and research. His undergraduate courses were usually scheduled one day a week for 3 hours, and students would talk non-stop in his classes. He was extremely brilliant, yet humble. Student's hands would fly up to participate, and he would write their names down one-by-one and take their comments in order. Many of us loved TA'ing for him because he was easy to be around, his classes were interesting, and he insisted on grading most of his own papers! That is how much he cared about his undergraduate students, he wanted to closely read their work himself. He often told me that students were what kept him going, and he drew a lot of inspiration from them. 

For many of us that knew him as graduate students, whether we worked with him or not, Reg gave us many invaluable gifts. He was generous with his time, and provided much needed emotional support. He was especially a treasure for first-generation, non-White, multiracial students, and those that did not "fit" into the norms of society and academia. He had a way of validating our thoughts and ideas, and helping us make sense of our experiences. Reg helped me become a better writer. When I entered graduate school, I was a single mom, I came from poverty,  I was not very well-prepared, and just like any first-year student, I was terrified to show my writing. I was a two-finger typer, I still am. Reg meticulously edited all of my writing, he carefully reviewed each comment he made about my writing with me, we spent hours on the phone doing this! To say he was a caring and generous mentor is an understatement. 

While Reg was my mentor, he was was most importantly my friend. I am grateful for the time we spent talking over the phone during the pandemic. There is so much more that can be said about Reg, this only touches the surface. I know many of us feel fortunate that we crossed life paths with this incredible human being. Much love and hugs to those that are grieving. 

-Rebecca, Los Angeles, CA

First & foremost, love to Reg's family and friends, who are mourning him right now. May you all be comforted by your sweet and funny memories of Reg while you feel the ache of missing him. 

Reg is the reason that I became a Sociology major (while an English major at UC Santa Barbara), the reason I got into the study of race/racism/White supremacy, the reason I understand how it plays out in Brasil (where half my family is from) yet, starting from childhood, didnt have a language for what I observed there (and here), and the reason that I was taught to see the politics of academe from an early age & stage.

His classes/writings on multiraciality changed the game (I'd never watched the Twilight Zone until his class!). His courses on global race/racisms (esp. concerning the US, Brasil, S. Africa) were what taught me the import of an empire/global/comparative approach, and the impetus for me to apply to Soc grad programs to study the 1992 LA Unrest from that angle. If you're not familiar w/ his work, take a look (or listen)..

He & I actually became much closer when, spurred by his brilliance and inspirational teaching while also confused why he was getting paid so little as a contract professor shuttling between 3 schools every week, I led a campaign to secure him a tenure-line job at UCSB (Soc). Again, Bill Bielby was instrumental here, because he listened to this scrappy, impassioned undergrad, took the 100s of letters on wrinkled paper, and started/oversaw the process that got Reg that tenure-track job. Reg never stopped thanking me/us for doing that, even though he'd deserved it long before & it was an obvious extension of his gifts to the world.

He was a dynamic recluse, a more-than-generous mentor, a great friend who truly saw me because he truly saw himself, and most importantly, a kind human being. I will miss him & his infectious laugh dearly. But I also know he's going to continue making waves and ruffling feathers on the other side, just as he should.