Exploring Black Experiences in Higher Education

Every year during Black History Month, the higher education community turns its eyes to America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As beacons of resilience, community, and equal opportunity, HBCUs present a unique case for how higher education can best support students from diverse backgrounds. How do the experiences of Black students compare at PWIs? How do different teaching practices affect Black faculty in these settings?

On February 24th at 12 PM CST, join Dr. Akil Houston, Dr. Tyra Gross, Rakeeta Hampton, and Jasmine Marealle as they explore and define their individual experiences as Black scholars and educators in higher education.

As recent graduates of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Howard University, Rakeeta and Jasmine will share how learning is allowed and accessed in settings designed specifically for Black students vs settings where non-Black students are the majority. As educators at The Ohio University and Xavier University of Louisiana, Dr. Akil Houston and Dr. Tyra Gross will share their unique perspectives on teaching and cultivating curiosity in two greatly contrasting environments.

During this session instructors will:

• Gain perspective on how representation acts as a core function of the learning process
• Explore what it means when students are empowered to express themselves through the learning process
• Deepen understanding of how higher learning can function as an exclusionary system
• Learn new approaches for creating equal opportunity, regardless of the academic setting