Diversity Studies

The University of Delaware’s new Center for the Study of Diversity will serve as a scholarly think tank that not only conducts research but also helps guide the University in finding the best ways to support diversity on campus.

That’s the vision of James Jones, professor of psychology and director of the center, whose own academic career has involved more than three decades of research, scholarship and professional service focused on issues of racism and diversity. {snip}

“Diversity is a complex issue in an increasingly diverse world,” Jones said. “I see the center as a place where we will accumulate knowledge and disseminate it–where our main product is information.” The center’s mission statement specifies a goal of “promoting academic research and scholarship that facilitates dialogues about and understanding of the social and academic impact of diversity.”

The center, which will serve the entire University but is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, is part of UD President Patrick Harker’s diversity initiative, which he discussed at the Dec. 6 Board of Trustees meeting.

“I’m serious about making UD a more welcoming, more inclusive institution because we can no longer say that we’re fundamentally preparing students for life and for work if we’re not preparing them for diversity,” Harker said. “Students must get an education that’s anchored in learning from and about diverse perspectives and people.”

{snip}

UD already has identified diversity as a core value, Jones noted, quoting the Path to Prominence strategic plan, which calls diversity “an integral and vital part of everyday life and a cornerstone value of our University.” {snip}

{snip}

Jones said that longer-term plans for the center may include establishing a group of faculty affiliates from other universities, who will collaborate with UD faculty on various projects; hosting scholarly lectures and workshops on diversity topics; issuing working papers on subjects that may be useful to the University and other institutions; and offering small research grants to faculty members focusing on key areas. Eventually, he said, an undergraduate minor in diversity studies might be established.

“In principle, of course, diversity is good, but it’s not good if the efforts to promote diversity aren’t done in the right way or aren’t effective,” Jones said. “We need to evaluate what works and what doesn’t, and we need to be creative in our approach. I think the center will be able to help the University do that.”