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Ibram X. Kendi Named Howard’s Director of Institute for Advanced Study

Bestselling author and historian Ibram X. Kendi will leave his role at Boston University to oversee a new research center at Howard.

Ibram X. Kendi speaking at a student panel and closing plenary session. (Photo courtesy of Hillsborough Community College via Flickr)

From the pages of bestselling books to the halls of Howard, Ibram X. Kendi is stepping into a new leadership role. He has been named director of the newly established Institute for Advanced Study, which will focus on issues of race, equity and policy.

Howard announced the creation of the Institute for Advanced Study as a center for interdisciplinary research on topics affecting the global African diaspora in a Jan. 30 email. The institute will bring together scholars to examine disparities in areas such as technology, the environment, health care, the economy, governance, education and the criminal legal system.

In the official announcement, Anthony K. Wutoh, provost and chief academic officer, said the institute will be “built on the highest standards of intellectual inquiry” and foster collaboration among researchers to address “persistent and potential inequities in areas of urgent concern.” 

Kendi will oversee research efforts related to these topics and work with scholars examining these issues.

Kendi is known for his works “How to Be an Antiracist,” “Stamped From the Beginning” and “Antiracist Baby.” His scholarship has contributed to discussions on race and policy, and he has held faculty positions at the University of Florida, American University and Boston University. Before joining Howard, he served as the founding director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, where he oversaw research on racial inequities.

A graduate of Florida A&M University, Kendi earned dual bachelor’s degrees in African American studies and magazine production before completing his master’s and doctorate degrees in African American studies at Temple University. 

His academic research has examined discriminatory policies, racial disparities in education and systemic inequities across institutions. His early work, “The Black Campus Movement,” explored Black student activism in higher education and won the W.E.B. Du Bois book prize.

The email said the Institute for Advanced Study will facilitate collaboration among scholars and researchers to study disparities in key sectors. Additionally, Kendi’s role as director will involve guiding research initiatives related to racial and social issues. 

While the institute is still in its early stages, the university has announced it as a space for long-term research projects that examine inequality and potential policy solutions. The university has not yet announced specific projects under the institute.

Kendi has received multiple honors, including a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship and recognition as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.

Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau

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