The Black Faculty Association has been established at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. The organization is an official group at the university with funding and other support services provided by the university administration. The goal of the organization is to develop programs and build research networks for the university’s Black faculty and create an environment where the University of Cincinnati is seen as a first-choice destination for Black faculty and their families. The group also wants to remove roadblocks that limit the productivity of black faculty at the university.
The university will fund efforts such as faculty development seminars to increase grant applications and improve teaching effectiveness; symposia to share research interests and explore potential research collaborations; and opportunities that leverage the skills and interests of existing faculty to provide networking, mentoring and support for recruitment, retention, tenure and promotion.
James Mack, associate professor of chemistry and associate dean of the Graduate School, will co-chair the association. He stated that “our organization has had a chance to really examine the unique challenges that face Black faculty at the university and develop strategies to alleviate these hurdles. The support we have received has been tremendous in helping to create a successful environment for Black faculty. We look forward to continuing the partnership with the president and provost to help bring the University of Cincinnati into its third century.”
Dr. Mack is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, where he majored in chemistry. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of New Hampshire.
