Fixing the Academy: Tapping Black Excellence on White Campuses”
Exploring new approaches to scholarly and professional achievement
in higher education

The Black Faculty and Staff Association of Johns Hopkins University is pleased to announce a conference on “Fixing the Academy: Tapping Black Excellence on White Campuses” to be held at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland, April 13 - 14, 2007.
The conference aims to bring together Black faculty, students, and staff from predominately white institutions to ask new questions and explore new ways to maximize the potential for Black achievement on predominately white campuses which will be appropriately recognized, valued and rewarded. Due to the changing demographics in higher education, gaps in educational and professional attainments among African Americans still present a major challenge. The transformation of institutions of higher education into more responsive educational environments will be highlighted during the conference.
Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake, president of Wilberforce University, and former member of the United States House of Representatives will be the keynote speaker. Additional presenters include: Dr. Anita Jenious, Vanderbilt University, Dr. Christopher Lester, Georgetown University, Dr. Roland Smith, Rice University, Dr. Levi Watkins Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Dr. Alma Clayton-Pederson, Vice President of the Office of Education and Institutional Renewal for the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U).
Conference workshops include: “Negotiating Your Worth: Black Excellence as a Bargaining Chip, “What Becomes of the Affirmative Action Baby? Challenging Assumptions of What You Bring to the Table,” “After What You Put Me Through, Why Give? Rethinking the Power of Black Alumni,” and “What We Do and Don’t Do to Support One Another.” Attendees will also have the opportunity to actively participate in focus groups to outline strategies and tactics in furthering the goal of Black achievement in higher education beyond the two day conference.
Attendance at the conference is welcome to all.