Fifteen historically Black colleges and universities have partnered to launch the Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI), a national coalition designed to expand research opportunities at HBCUs.
The participating institutions are Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University in Virginia, Howard University in Washington, D.C., Jackson State University in Mississippi, Morgan State University in Baltimore, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University in Texas, South Carolina State University, Southern University in Louisiana, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Virginia State University.
Through this partnership, AHRI’s founding members aim to support HBCUs by increasing research capacity, strengthening institutional infrastructure, boosting funding opportunities, enhancing faculty recruiting, and expanding student access to research and career pathways. Additionally, the partnering institutions will focus on increasing the number of HBCUs achieving R1 Carnegie Classification.
AHRI is supported by the Association of American Universities, where its offices will be co-located, and a three-year $1 million grant from the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative. Harvard’s vice provost for research will also provide technical assistance.
“AHRI marks a powerful new chapter in the HBCU research landscape, bringing institutions that have too often worked in isolation into sustained collaboration with one another and with the country’s leading research universities,” said Ruth Simmons, senior adviser to the Harvard University president on engagement with HBCUs and a three-time college president.
Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University, serves as AHRI’s interim president. Morgan State University President David K. Wilson serves as board chair, and Prairie View A&M University President Tomikia P. LeGrande serves as vice chair.
