In 1930, Imes returned to Fisk University, where he served as chair of the physics department. Imes is credited with the academic development of the physics programs at Fisk. Many of his students went on to obtain doctoral degrees from highly ranked schools such as the University of Michigan. While at Fisk, Imes developed a course in cultural physics, to teach students about the history of science. In 1931, Imes was named one of the thirteen most gifted Black Americans.