Dartmouth College has launched the Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life (IBICL), a research center focused on the study of the Black diaspora. The institute is part of "Toward Equity," a three-year strategic plan to improve Dartmouth's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Dr. Shontay Delalue, senior vice president and senior diversity officer at Dartmouth, said that centering on the Black community is meant to uplift individuals from that community, create a hub of creativity, and work against the hundreds of years of systemic policies that have harmed the Black community.
Dr. Shontay Delalue is senior vice president and senior diversity officer at Dartmouth College.
"The Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life at Dartmouth College is not designed to exclude," said Delalue. "It's actually designed to educate and include the voice, [the] incredibly important voice, of the Black community. To ensure that history is never forgotten so that we can create a thriving future for everyone who should learn about the Black community and their contributions."
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Delalue said that Dartmouth had an introspective look at its role in ensuring the uplifting of the Black community.
Dr. Kimberly Juanita Brown, IBICL's inaugural director, said that numerous stakeholders were involved in the creation of the institute, from alums and faculty to staff members and the administration. She describes it as the 'little engine that will,' and the result of that work is something she is proud of.
Dr. Kimberly Juanita Brown is the Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life's inaugural director.
