While it has always been the case, recent events force recognition of the need for imaginative and creative transformations of higher education. In so doing, a central aim must be the fostering of leadership across campuses with the capacity, skills, and vision necessary to address the challenges of anti-black racism and other modes of injustice infecting our society. Long committed to the nurturing of citizens with the critical thinking skills and communication strategies to foster positive social change, we see a need to move beyond this effort on individual campuses and in ways that serve to dismantle the divide between historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly white institutions of higher education (PWIs).
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) is meant as an intervention related to this much needed work—serving as a pilot initiative we hope will eventually grow to include a national range of partners.
Mission Statement
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) seeks to develop and nurture strategies for fostering generations of academic leadership equipped to address issues of justice demanding attention, and to do this in ways that entail collaboration across HBCUs and PWIs.
Goals
Black Leadership Across Campuses (BLAC) supports its mission through careful and creative attention to, implementations of, the following goals:
- Foster communications across campuses that highlight shared concerns, and that open opportunity for collaboration on key issues;
- Produce programming that enhances our understanding of justice-centered academic leadership;
- Produce materials that explore key issues and offer innovative insights;
- Develop a pipeline of new leaders with the critical thinking skills, effective communication strategies and organizational knowledge needed to advance justice minded institutions.
BLAC Symposiums
BLAC hosts a series of conferences at Rice University and Virginia Union University addressing a range of themes that explore the mission and cultural world(s) framed by HBCUs. These symposiums serve as the basis for research publications.
The State of B.L.A.C. Higher Education
BLAC Spring 2025 Virtual Summit
The HBCU Shift: From Survival & Sustainability to Competitiveness & Transformation
BLAC Spring 2024 Virtual Summit
Repairing The Breach: HBCUs The Black Church & Social Justice Today
BLAC Spring 2023 Summit @ Virginia Union University
HBCUs & Identity Formation
BLAC Fall 2023 Virtual Symposium @ Rice University
Religion & HBCUs: History, Mission & Impact
BLAC Fall 2022 Symposium @ Rice University
BLAC Lecture Series
BLAC features lectures by prominent leaders in higher education addressing themes related to our goals and objectives.
Repairing The Breach: How HBCUs Can Save America, Again! | Watch
Dr. Hakim J. Lucas President & CEO of Virginia Union University
The inaugural lecture was offered by Hakim J. Lucas, President & CEO of Virginia Union University. Dr. Lucas outlined a strategic vision for how HBCUs can aid America in repairing the social, economic and political breaches widening in the foundation of American culture and society. Specifically, he focused on how academicians can participate and benefit.
BLAC Workshops
BLAC workshop sessions support graduate students and faculty in navigating various and diversified career trajectories.
Ellavate Solutions Professional Development Workshop
Dr. Ella F. Washington, Ellavate Solutions
In the Spring of 2022 Dr. Ella Washington brought together pre-tenure academics (junior faculty and graduate students) from Rice University and Virginia Union University to explore issues of professional development, strategies for success, and maximizing leadership opportunities.