Edward A. Ross, a professor of sociology at both Stanford and the University of Wisconsin, played a significant role in providing "scientific" support for the movement.

The eugenics movement

Explanation:

Edward A. Ross was a professor of sociology at both Stanford and the University of Wisconsin.  He was an American sociologist, eugenicist, economist, and criminologist. Edward Ross was born in Virden, Illinois, and was a strong supporter of eugenics in his academic career. He was known to always speak strongly against immigration, and a strong supporter of the "race self-annihilation" with one of his speech leading to the call for his immediate resignation from Stanford University where he taught as a professor.