Pennsylvania State University has announced the formation of a new Center for Racial Justice. The new center will be dedicated to research and scholarship around racism and racial bias. It will be housed within the Social Science Research Institute, which aims to foster research addressing critical human and social problems.
Among the stated goals for the new center are:
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- Support cross-disciplinary, cross-methodological research activities across Penn State’s 24 campuses.
- Create a fellowship program that enables faculty to focus on critical research topics within the scope of center activities through seed grants that can lead to external funding.
- Create an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through scholarships and project support.
- Enable the development of racial justice pedagogies through educational tools for faculty and staff, workshops, and public forums.
- Support the University in its efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“The formation of Penn State’s Center for Racial Justice is the result of our university community taking action together toward continued growth, and I am grateful for the commitment of the leaders guiding this effort,” said Eric J. Bannon, president of Pennsylvania State University. “By aligning with our education and research mission and ensconcing the center into Penn State’s successful institutional research model, we are bringing scholarly work and dialogue to the forefront. We will be poised to draw upon our research excellence, attract additional talented scholars, and develop new insights in these critical areas.”
