Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC)
A joint project by CERCL and the Virginia Union University Center for the
Study of HBCUs
While it has always been the case, recent events force recognition of the need for imaginative and creative transformations of higher education. In so doing, a central aim must be the fostering of leadership across campuses with the capacity, skills, and vision necessary to address the challenges of anti-black racism and other modes of injustice infecting our society. Long committed to the nurturing of citizens with the critical thinking skills and communication strategies to foster positive social change, we see a need to move beyond this effort on individual campuses and in ways that serve to dismantle the divide between historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly white institutions of higher education (PWIs).
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) is meant as an intervention related to this much needed work—serving as a pilot initiative we hope will eventually grow to include a national range of partners.
Mission Statement
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) seeks to develop and nurture strategies for fostering generations of academic leadership equipped to address issues of justice demanding attention, and to do this in ways that entail collaboration across HBCUs and PWIs.
Goals
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) supports its mission through careful and creative attention to, implementations of, the following goals:
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Foster communications across campuses that highlight shared concerns, and that open opportunity for collaboration on key issues;
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Produce programming that enhances our understanding of justice-centered academic leadership;
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Produce materials that explore key issues and offer innovative insights;
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Develop a pipeline of new leaders with the critical thinking skills, effective communication strategies and organizational knowledge needed to advance justice minded institutions.
BLAC SYMPOSIUMS
BLAC will host a series of conferences at Rice University and Virginia Union University addressing a range of themes that explore the mission and cultural world(s) framed by HBCUs. These symposiums will serve as the basis for research publications.
BLAC Spring 2024 Virtual Summit
THE HBCU SHIFT:
From Survival & Sustainability to Competitiveness & Transformation
March 28, 2024
PARTICIPATING SPEAKERS
Dietra Trent | White House HBCU Initiative
Herman J. Felton Jr | President, Wiley University
Elford Anthony Elford | 22nd President of Wilberforce University
Makola Abdullah, Ph.D. | President, Virginia State University
M. Christopher Brown | Former President Alcorn State University and Kentucky State University; Thurgood Marshall College Fund
David Swinton | President Emeritus, Benedict College
Melva K. Wallace | President, Huston-Tillotson University
Trudie Kibbe Reed, 5th President of Bethune-Cookman University
Beverly Hogan | 13th President of Tougaloo College
Everett B. Ward | 11th President of St Augustine's University; 35th General President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Larry Earvin | Chief of Staff, SACSCOC and President Emeritus, Huston-Tillotson University
Paulette Dillard, President, Shaw University
Roderick Smothers | 14th President of Philander Smith University and now Executive Director, Center for the Study of HBCUs
Terrell Strayhorn, PhD, Professor and Director of Research, Center for the Study of HBCUs
Pavani Reddy, EAB
HBCUs & IDENTITY FORMATION
BLAC Fall 2023 Virtual Symposium | September 22 & 23, 2023
REPAIRING THE BREACH: HBCUs, THE BLACK CHURCH & SOCIAL JUSTICE TODAY
BLAC Spring 2023 Summit @ Virginia Union University
RELIGION & HBCUs: HISTORY, MISSION & IMPACT
BLAC Fall 2022 Symposium @ Rice University | October 28 & 29, 2022
BLAC LECTURE SERIES
BLAC will feature lectures each semester by prominent leaders in higher education addressing themes related to our goals and objectives.
REPAIRING THE BREACH
HOW HBCUs CAN SAVE AMERICA, AGAIN!
The inaugural lecture was offered by Hakim J. Lucas, President & CEO of Virginia Union University. Dr. Lucas outlined a strategic vision for how HBCUs can aid America in repairing the social, economic and political breaches widening in the foundation of American culture and society. Specifically, he focused on how academicians can participate and benefit.
BLAC WORKSHOPS
BLAC workshops sessions support graduate students and faculty in navigating various and diversified career trajectories.
Spring 2022
Dr. Ella F. Washington, Ellavate Solutions
Professional development workshops for graduate students and junior faculty designed to support them in navigating various and diversified career trajectories.