M. Thandabantu Iverson received his doctorate from the Dept. of Political Science at Clark Atlanta University in 2007. His dissertation, "Serving in the Shadows: African-American Women Health Care Workers in Gary, Indiana, 1980-2000," is an examination of workplace and union conditions and resistance strategies of African American working-class women. His areas of scholarly interest are Feminist Theory, African-American Political Thought, Labor Studies, Critical Race Feminism, and Human Rights. Prof. Iverson served as a faculty member in Labor Studies from 1996 until 2014, retiring as a Senior Lecturer.

Prior to joining the Labor Studies Faculty (in the IUPUI School of Social Work) Thandabantu worked in a number of occupations in different industries, including: health & safety organizer on the International Staff of the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU); stage hand and decorator with the International Association of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE); coal miner and mine safety activist with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); auto worker with the United Auto Workers (UAW); steel worker with the United Steel Workers of America (USWA); furniture worker, shipyard worker, elementary and middle school teacher, and college adjunct instructor. 

Dr. Iverson has participated in various social movements within the United States, including the Civil Rights, Black Student, Black Power, African Liberation Support, Vietnam Anti-War, New Left, and Human Rights Movements.

Thandabantu is a former founding member of the U.S. Human Rights Network.