Founding Vision and Strategic Direction

• In Event: Advancing Justice Education: The HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup's Mission and Strategic Initiatives

Abstract

This presentation articulates the foundational vision and strategic framework that catalyzed the establishment of the HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup. It examines systematic efforts to unify and strengthen over 80 HBCU criminal justice programs through collaborative programming, resource development initiatives, and comprehensive academic planning. Drawing upon extensive experience in law enforcement training, youth engagement initiatives, and academic leadership, the presentation analyzes effective strategies for bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications, securing sustainable institutional support, and cultivating a collective trajectory for criminology and criminal justice education within the HBCU context. The discussion highlights how this organizational infrastructure advances institutional sustainability and disciplinary innovation.

Author

• Everette Penn, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup