UCSD Professor Found Fatally Stabbed

A popular black professor at UC San Diego was killed late Friday night, stabbed several times in his car that was parked near an automated bank teller machine in the 4100 block of El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego Police reported.

He was identified as Charles W. Thomas, 64, a psychologist who had taught at UCSD since 1971 as a professor of urban studies and planning.

Homicide investigators said passers-by discovered Thomas slumped over his steering wheel, asking for help. He was taken to Villa View Community Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery but died.

Police said they knew of no motive and had no identified suspects.

Thomas lived in El Cajon and taught at UCSD’s Third College, where colleagues referred to him as the “father of black psychology,” said university spokeswoman Winifred Cox.

“His expertise was in urban culture and Afro-American culture and psychology,” she said. Among the classes he taught were “Community Dynamics and Ethnicity” and “Impact of Public Policy on Human Behavior.” He also wrote the book, “Boys No More: A Collection of Writings and Essays on the Psychology of Blacks.”

Thomas’ wife, Shirley Thomas, was a professor of Afro-American studies at San Diego State University until her death last year.