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

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Among the 102 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 87 institutions offer degree programs in criminology/criminal justice, representing a significant educational ecosystem comprising over 6,000 students and approximately 300 faculty members. With support from the MacArthur Foundation, the HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup was established to strengthen these programs through collaborative initiatives, including faculty development programming, methodological workshops, collaborative research, grant preparation support, policy development, inter-institutional faculty exchanges, and comprehensive career development pathways for students and faculty. This panel session will provide a detailed examination of the organization's founding vision, developmental trajectory, current initiatives, and strategic future directions, as presented by the Executive Director and key organizational leadership. A structured Q&A session will follow the presentations. Scholars and administrators affiliated with HBCUs or those who support the HBCU mission and their contributions to criminal justice education are particularly encouraged to attend.

Sub Unit

• Area II. Perspectives on Crime / 9. Critical Race/Ethnicity

Individual Presentations

• Founding Vision and Strategic Direction - Everette Penn, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup

• Historical and Scholarly Contributions of HBCUs to Criminology - Helen Taylor Greene, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup

• Innovation, Access, and Student-Centered Reform in Criminal Justice Education - Jessica Davis-Ganao, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup

• Community-Engaged Scholarship and Transformative Policy Practice - Kideste Yusef, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup / Bethune Cookman University

Chair

• Everette Penn, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup

Discussants

• Everette Penn, HBCU Criminal Justice Workgroup

• Patrick Webb, North Carolina A&T State University

Organized by a Division or external group?

DPCC @ 30