FAMU grad Ibram X. Kendi, PhD, one of the world’s leading historians and most widely read scholars, has joined Howard University to serve as the director of the newly established Howard University Institute for Advanced Study. Built on the highest standards of intellectual inquiry, the institute is dedicated to interdisciplinary study advancing research of importance to the global African Diaspora, including inquiry into race, technology, racism, climate change, and disparities. Dr. Kendi’s appointment and this new institute are a continuation of Howard’s long history in study and scholarly research on the diasporic experience of Black and Brown people.
The establishment of this institute is both a continuation and expansion of Howard University’s long-standing mission to study and combat racial injustice.
“Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s exceptional scholarship and unwavering commitment to social justice align perfectly with Howard University’s mission and values as we deepen our scholarship on the African Diaspora,” said Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph., Howard University’s provost and chief academic officer. “We are confident that under his leadership, the new institute will become a beacon of excellence and a catalyst for transformative change.”
The Howard University Institute for Advanced Study will engage thinkers and scholars at Howard University, in the country, and around the world in addressing deep and persisting inequities in areas including, but not limited to, technology, the environment, healthcare, the economy, governance, education, and the criminal legal system. The institute will revolve around a competitive residential fellowship program where an annual international class of fellows pursues impactful projects across disciplines and fields. Each fellow will be paired with a Howard student to foster research and mentorship. The fellowship program will also be open to Howard’s faculty.
“I could not be prouder and more excited to join this illustrious and historic university,” Kendi said. “I have had my eye on the Mecca my entire career, studying its history and witnessing what Howards means to the culture. There are so many faculty on this campus whose work I deeply admire. There are so many talented students on this campus whom I am excited to support. There are so many alumni who walked those grounds and went on to shape the people, cultures, and institutions I love. This is the most fulfilling career choice I have ever made. I can’t wait to get started on our new institute.”