Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson submitted to the Brief of 823 Social Scientists as Amici Curiae presented to the U.S. Supreme Court in November, 2015. This brief provides collaborative, empirical evidence, and key findings that support “colleges’ rights to consider race as one of the many factors in selecting students.” This brief also represents a surge in support of diversity efforts as signers represent 237 universities and research enterprises across the United States, an increase from the 444 signers of the 2012 brief.

The Supreme Court, for the second time, is hearing the lawsuit Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. This “rare” second consideration will review the court’s decision on the educational value of student body diversity and the “non–racial ways to attain it.” After being denied admissions to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008, Abigail Fisher, a white student who argued that “who would not have been admitted even if there was no consideration of race,” blamed UT’s affirmative action program and sued the University. After being unable to prove discrimination in court, the federal district court rejected her lawsuit.

Fisher appealed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the prior ruling. In a last attempt, Fisher’s lawyers brought the case to the Supreme Court, which saw a 7-1 decision, which sent the case back to the 5th Circuit for another hearing. This time Justice Anthony Kennedy explained that the university had not proved “its admissions program [was] narrowly tailored to obtain the education benefits of diversity.”

The 5th Circuit returned to the case in 2013. “It is equally settled that universities may use race as part of a holistic admissions program where it cannot otherwise achieve diversity,” wrote the 2-1 majority. Fisher proceeded to appeal to the Supreme Court again. Fisher has since graduated from another university.

“As social science researchers, we are increasingly called upon to lend our research and voices to important discourse that will shape the future direction of decision-making in the nation,” Jackson said.

The Wei LAB is committed to equity and inclusion in education and is interested in your thoughts on Affirmative Action in higher education. Please join the discussion on social media on our blog, Facebook, and Twitter using #AffirmativeAction.

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson was mentioned in a article published by the Des Moines Register headlined, “New Iowa State VP for diversity says he is up for challenge.”

Reginald Stewart, current chief diversity officer at the University of Nevada, Reno was selected to be Iowa State University’s (ISU) first vice president of diversity and inclusion. His appointment is scheduled to begin December 1, 2015.

The position was created in direct response to the eight key recommendations and several “current practices of excellence” grounded in a comprehensive institutional study on ISU’s campus diversity programs conducted by Dr. Jackson as well as a report on the status of women at ISU.

“Iowa State really caught my attention because they had Dr. Jackson do this comprehensive asset inventory in which they took the time to say, ‘These are our strengths, and these are our weaknesses,’” Stewart said. “It gave me a very clear understanding of where I could fit in.”

Stewart has over 15 years of experience in student services and affairs and remains a strong advocate for students. He says he’ll start his new position by having sincere and honest conversations with staff, faculty, students and community members.

“It’s not immediately transactional. You don’t come in here and do X, Y, Z. What you do is you come in and establish the framework from which you can work,” he said. “That means engaging with people who are invested in long-term success.”

Jackson, an alum of ISU, is Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and a faculty member within the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Currently, Dr. Jackson is on sabbatical leave this academic year.

The Wei LAB has joined 17 other leading research centers to issue a call for more research to be generated on campus violence and safety in a response to the increased shootings across college campuses.

These 18 leading research centers are calling for more government and private support to expand the knowledge on important topics such as: mental health, overrepresentation of college men among campus shooters, influence of television and films, gun ownership policies, and impact of gun violence on students’ academic performance.

So far in 2015 alone, there has been 23 shootings on college campuses.

“The work of campus safety is very important in postsecondary education. Parents entrust their most precious life contributions, their children, to us and we cannot do enough to create the type of campus environment that promotes community, learning, and understanding,” says Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Director and Chief Research Scientist of the Wei LAB. Dr. Jackson is editor of Creating and Maintaining Safe Campuses: A Sourcebook for Evaluating and Enhancing Safety Programs with Melvin C. Terrell (2007: Stylus Publishing).

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson spoke at the UW Multicultural Homecoming Reception on Friday, October 16, 2015 at the Pres House, UW-Madison.

Tracy Williams–Maclin, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is responsible for building relationships with diverse alumni and driving the annual Multicultural Homecoming as an opportunity to advance the diverse landscape of UW alumni and celebrate those efforts across campus and beyond. As an example, this year’s iconic Badger tradition The Red Shirt™ incorporated a new limited edition designed by Virgil Abloh ‘03.  This new collaborative effort is a demonstration of the power of engaging a diverse alumnus who is making a global impact to make an impact here on campus.

The intention of UW Multicultural Homecoming is to ensure all alumni feel connected to UW and are able to participate in various platforms that enable diverse Badgers to network, attend panel discussions, watch the Homecoming game, and participate in special tours of campus. The weekend launched with the UW Multicultural Homecoming Reception which hosted 150 participants representing a broad base of alumni, faculty, staff, students and shareholders. The event specifically highlighted the accomplishments of former student-athletes Japheth Cato ‘14, currently training for the Olympics.

Dr. Jackson provided remarks that encouraged alumni engagement and mentoring through the alumni network particularly in support of student athletes. Dr. Jackson noted the multifaceted complexities placed upon student athletes based on empirical evidenced generated by Beyond the Game (BTG Solutions), a translational project that seeks to maximize post-graduation outcomes for student athletes.

“Student-athletes have many competing demands for their time that goes beyond the normal expectations of college students,” Jackson said. “Therefore, intentional efforts are required on behalf of Athletic Departments and Universities to create opportunities for them to focus on their post-graduate opportunities.”

Jackson has worked closely with student-athletes during his eight terms on the Athletic Board at the University of Wisconsin-Madison regarding their academic identity, development, career aspirations, and post-graduate outcomes. In 2010, the Wei LAB received funding to develop and implement BTG Solutions, designed to support student-athletes in their academic achievement and assist them in identifying viable career options outside of athletics. The program was implemented in the Athletic Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 and is currently being expanded to other institutions.

The Wei LAB invites you to connect on Facebook and Twitter to obtain crucial updates and information on equity and inclusion issues confronting the educational system.

Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) and the Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male (BNRC) at the Ohio State University sponsored the 4th annual International Colloquium on Black Males in Education (ICBME) in Kingston, Jamaica, October 6–9, 2015. ICBME had record attendance as scholars, students, practitioners, policymakers and global citizens gathered to disseminate timely research findings and share empirical strategies that respond to the most critical and pressing issues surrounding the educational achievement of Black males on a global scale.

The theme, “Creating Opportunity Through Education: Re-Engineering the Social Ecosystem for Black Males,” was activated through a pipeline approach beginning with the Pre-Colloquium, comprised of the College Academy at the Haile Selassie High School in Trench Town, and the Graduate School Academy at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Over the three days following the Pre-Colloquium, the Colloquium convened at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and the Jamaica Conference Center. Topical keynote addresses related to policy, education, and health were delivered by the Honorable Floyd Emerson Morris, President of the Senate and House of Parliament in Jamaica; Mr. Ronald Walker, Executive Director educator and Founding member of the Coalition of Schools Evaluating Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC); Dr. Wizdom A. Powell, Associate Professor of Health Behavior, at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill; Dr. Bridget R. McCurtis, Assistant Vice Provost for Diversity at New York University; and Dr. Carl A. Grant, Hoefs–Bascom Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; and Dr. Richard Majors, Director and Senior Fellow at the Applied Centre of Emotional Literacy Leadership & Research (ACELLR).

Across four days, participants engaged in workshops, cultural tours, research poster sessions for scholars and students, networking opportunities, and discussions. The Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony, a Colloquium tradition, presented Warrior Awards which is an international distinction given to individuals who have provided longstanding service, commitment, and leadership to the “most difficult” challenges impacting Black males in education globally. Seven outstanding professionals were inducted into the 2015 Warrior Awards Class: Dr. Phillip J. Bowman, Dr. Carl A. Grant, Dr. Richard Majors, Mr. Ronald Walker, Mr. Russell Bell, Dr. Peter Weller, and Dr. Alston Barrington “Barry” Chevannes, posthumously. Additional information regarding the lives and careers of Warriors Awardees can be obtained on the Colloquium website.

Dr. Jerlando F .L. Jackson, Colloquium Chair and Director and Chief Research Scientist of the Wei LAB, noted the 2015 Colloquium was managed through nearly a year’s worth of planning, with the help of critical partners, co-sponsors, and assistance from the local planning committee at the The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Dr. Jackson noted the global impact of the Colloquium, particularly the Pre-Colloquium:

“The value and impact of the Colloquium convening in Kingston was evident on the first day,” Jackson said. “A touching example is that Colloquium outreach efforts in a high school inspired young Black males to see going to college as an option for the first time. It is important that we endeavor to improve the communities of the host city of the Colloquium.”

James L. Moore III, Colloquium Co–Chair and EHE Distinguished Professor of Urban Education, Executive Director of the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male at The Ohio State University expressed the impact ICBME had in terms it being a dynamic platform that fosters innovations and strategic partnerships:

“The Colloquium attracts some of the best minds across the globe,” Moore said. “It offers an intimate space for individuals to share and learn from each other about Black males and also provides a stimulating environment for them to discuss, critique, and compare educational and social trends while assessing the broader societal implications.This year, several striking trends and patterns were noticed among Black males in the United States and Jamaica, which Dr. Jackson and I strongly believe will foster future collaborations among Colloquium attendees,” Moore said.

The Wei LAB shared 2015 Colloquium keynotes, ceremonies, webinars, interviews, photographs and special features, which include updates on the 2016 Colloquium. The first multimedia release includes includes a Storify piece which documents engagement with presenters and attendees. Please visit the Wei LAB on the web, Facebook, Twitter, as well as by using #ICBME15 to learn more about the Colloquium and to obtain information on equity and inclusion issues confronting the educational system.

Wei LAB Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate Dr. LaVar J. Charleston traveled to Eastern Michigan University (EMU) on September 2, 2015 to provide workshops to students in the BrotherHOOD Scholars program. The BrotherHOOD (Helping Others Obtain Degrees) Scholars program, a living and learning community for men of color, is the first program of its kind at EMU and one of the few in the U.S.

BrotherHOOD Scholars seeks to create a strong community of support for men of color at EMU. With the goal of completing their degrees in a timely manner, scholars receive academic support, information pertinent to their studies and lives, personal and professional development opportunities and mentorship.

As part of the program, Charleston delivered two presentations to incoming freshmen: “Understanding Cultural Intelligence for Leadership and Navigating Higher Education” and “Personal Branding for Effective Communication and Building Success.”

“Working with the BrotherHOOD initiative at EMU is an awesome and inspiring opportunity. There is a large population of scholars from Detroit, and being from Detroit myself, it is like going home to help my community,” Charleston said.

“They are working on a game-changing model for Black male achievement with this living/learning community, particularly at predominantly white institutions of higher learning. The groundwork for success is truly being laid with the resources and opportunities being provided to these young men who are building community to learn, grow and share with one another and others the keys to successful college matriculation.”

Charleston and Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson work closely with Dr. Raul Leon, a professor at EMU and a University of Wisconsin-Madison Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis department alumni. Together, the team has made efforts to build up the EMU Men of Color Retention Plan, in which the BrotherHOOD program is a key component.

The Wei LAB invites you to connect on Facebook and Twitter to obtain critical updates and information on equity and inclusion issues confronting the educational system.

Wei LAB Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate Dr. LaVar J. Charleston and Director and Chief Research Scientist Jerlando F. L. Jackson presented their research at the Sixth International Conference on Sport & Society on July 30-31, 2015. Held at the University of Toronto, Canada, the theme of this year’s conference was, “Sport in the Americas.”

The conference examines sport within the contexts of history, sociology, psychology, medicine, health, education, administration and management and convenes global scholars and researchers to discuss key issues and build relationships with experts in fields related to these topics. Charleston and Jackson presented the study, “Media Images and Their Impact on the Academic Identity Development of Black Male Student Athletes.” The study explores the relationship between media representations of Black male student-athletes and the student-athletes’ own understanding of their academic identity.

“Black male athletes are keenly aware of the stigma that surrounds them through media sources as a result of being Black, a Black male, and a Black male athlete,” Charleston said. “Many of these student athletes feel as though they are the target of unjust scrutiny, and they actively attempt to combat these negative stereotypes. This conference enabled us to present a new lens, one of the athletes themselves that demonstrated the contribution of the media on student and academic developmental processes undergone by black male student athletes.”

Charleston and Jackson work closely with athletes, in particular Black male student-athletes, and their academic identity and development. In 2010, the Wei LAB created the Beyond the Game (BTG) initiative, designed to support student-athletes in their academic achievement and assist them in identifying viable career options outside of athletics; Charleston currently serves as a BTG instructor. The program was implemented at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 and is currently being expanded to other institutions through BTG Solutions.

“Beyond the Game combines the best literature on student development with the realities of college athletics. Through its various components, BTG serves to emphasize the strengths and leadership characteristics that are gain through sport, to readily transfer these skills toward educational and occupational considerations outside of athletics,” Charleston said. “At the end of the day, all athletes will retire—BTG helps to prepare them for life ‘Beyond the Game.’”

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson gave the keynote address “State of Affairs for Black Males in Education: How Data Shapes the Narrative,” to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Summer Leadership Institute in Green Lake, Wisconsin on July 18, 2015. The talk presented information to school board members and administrators from across the state of Wisconsin seeking information and best practices to this challenging issue that persists in education today.

Dr. Jackson returned from the event hopeful and energized about how his research can continue to make a significant difference in educational policy around the state.

“It was clear from the engagement of the audience and questions posed that these school board members were planning to take back data points from my talk to think seriously about the experiences of African American males and other men of color in their school district,” Jackson said. “It is in spaces like these that open critical dialogue, grounded in evidence-based research, that can make a difference.”

As the Wei LAB seeks thoughtful engagement from fellow practitioners, policymakers and concerned citizens, please visit our Facebook page to join the conversation and share your experiences, expertise and your take on the state of affairs for Black males in education as we continue to work towards fostering equitable and inclusive working and learning environments.

On Wednesday, August 12, Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Director and Chief Research Scientist of Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB), served as expert panelist at the 82nd Grand Chapter Meeting of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., National Guide Right Town Hall. The Kappa Town Hall took place in New Orleans, Louisiana and consisted of two expert panels on Black Male Achievement and Black Lives Matter.

The Kappa Town Hall was intended to provide attendees with information as to how to improve life and educational outcomes for young men of color in America. Participants were encouraged to use hashtag #KappaTownHall. Jackson’s panel informed participants on how to make Black male achievement systemic in the educational system. Solutions offered included My Brother’s Keeper, (MBK), an effort activated in more than 200 cities nationally, including five within Wisconsin. Jackson advises the White House on MBK through his role as Chair of the Grand Commission on Young African American Males and his leadership in the Wei LAB with the local partnership.

”I appreciated the invitation to be a part of the Fraternity’s bold step to become a national leader in education. The Fraternity has prioritized working with youth since 1922 with the establishment of the Guide Right Program, which is arguably one of the first mentoring programs focused on Black boys in the country. The Fraternity is going beyond the original commitment by pooling resources to evolve the Kappa League program into the nation’s premiere mentoring program for Black boys. Concurrently, the Fraternity is assembling all of its members in education to focus on the potential of our collective impact on the field. These efforts align not only with my personal objectives, but neatly fit with the mission of the Wei LAB.”

Jackson is an active and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. For more than 20 years, Jackson has served in numerous posts of the fraternity, including a five-year term as the Polemarch (President) of the Madison, Wisconsin Alumni Chapter, chair of the education committee for the Achievement Academy, and chair of the Membership Intake and Orientation Process Instruction for the North Central Province. He has also served as a member of the Brain Trust for the Undergraduate Leadership Institute and Undergraduate Board Member of the Provincial Board of Directors for the Southwestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Jackson’s research, in part, focuses on Black male achievement. In March 2015 he presented at the symposium for Northeastern Province Meeting of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated entitled, “Promise Symposium: A Conversation on Our Boys of Color, Our Community and Our Commitment.” As an extension of his research, Jackson is co-founder and chair of the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education currently in its fourth year. This year’s meeting will focus on “Creating Opportunity Through Education: Re-Engineering the Social Ecosystem for Black Males.” The Colloquium will convene at the University of the West Indies – Mona on October 6 – 9, 2015.

The Wei LAB invites you to connect on Facebook and Twitter to obtain critical updates and information on equity and inclusion issues confronting the educational system.

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson visited the White House on June 17, 2015 to discuss My Brother’s Keeper initiatives being implemented in Michigan.

Jackson, the Chair of the Grand Commission on Young African American Males for Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Boulé, joined fellow members of the fraternity and representatives from Eastern Michigan University and the Saginaw (MI) Public School District to present two successful examples of programs they are implementing in Michigan as a result of President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) pledge.

Jackson and the other attendees informed White House representatives about the Men of Color Degree Completion and Retention Plan at Eastern Michigan University, which seeks to help men of color transition smoothly, persist in their studies and graduate ready for success. The evidence-based, comprehensive approach seeks to address the negative impacts men of color face on campus, and to assure their success after they graduate.

The mission of the second initiative, Saginaw Public School District’s Centric Program, has been designed to enhance male students’ awareness of career options; to improve their ability to pursue a college degree; and to elevate student’s self-esteem and self-worth. With a focus on improving reading, math and science skills in addition to addressing character and behavioral issues, the school district seeks to improve students’ academic standing.

Jackson is the Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is actively involved in several MBK initiatives, especially that of Madison, Wisconsin. On June 4, Jackson stood alongside Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and others to introduce the city’s own initiatives aimed at combatting the racial inequalities in Madison.

Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB), along with The Ohio State University’s Todd Anthony Bell Resource Center on the African American Male is proud to announce the 4th Annual International Colloquium on Black Males in Education. The 2015 Colloquium will take place October 6-9, 2015 at the University of the West Indies-Mona in Kingston, Jamaica.

The theme of this year’s Colloquium is “Creating Opportunity Through Education: Re-Engineering the Social Ecosystem for Black Males.” Bringing together scholars, practitioners, policy makers, funders, students and concerned citizens, the Colloquium provides attendees with a valuable arena for discussion, community-building, learning and thought. The Colloquium will examine global dynamics of Black males in education over the course of three days’ worth of program, as well as through Pre-Colloquium Academies offering workshop settings for students to network and learn.

Registration is now open for individuals interested in attending the Colloquium. A tentative schedule, as well as information on registration and travel, can be found on the Colloquium website. We hope to see you in Jamaica!

Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson participated in an interactive panel on My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiatives on June 20 at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The event, “Baton Rouge Answers the Call to Service: My Brother’s Keeper” was sponsored by Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Grand Social Action Committee in conjunction with the Alpha Xi Boulé 50th Anniversary.

Jackson, the Chair of the Grand Commission on Young African American Males for Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Boulé, acted as a panel member discussing MBK Community Challenge initiatives, research and policy and higher education for boys and men of color. Other topics of discussion for the panel included programs and initiatives to support boys and men of color; college enrollment and degree completion; increasing employment rates; and issues of violent crime and racial profiling.

“It was inspiring to participate in this community-based event, which was used to advance the dialog in Baton Rouge regarding their commitment to My Brother’s Keeper and males of color,” Jackson said.

The Wei LAB and Jackson have played a key role in MBK initiatives in Madison, Wisconsin where Jackson is the Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At a press conference on June 4, Jackson stood alongside Mayor Paul Soglin to present local MBK initiatives aimed at addressing racial disparities in Madison. More recently, Jackson along with other national advisors visited the White House to present programs activated by the MBK challenge to demonstrate the success of such programs in elevating boys and men of color.

Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist, is quoted in the Diverse Education article “Faculty Outraged Over Wisconsin’s Proposed Tenure Changes,” published on June 1, 2015.  The article discusses a bill introduced by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker that includes a $250 million cut from the University of Wisconsin system, removes state-supported tenure protection and limits faculty involvement in the shared governance system.

Jackson expressed concern over the proposed changes, explaining that tenure protection and shared governance give Wisconsin an edge over other institutions.

“There are a number of scholars that elect to take a lot less [money] . . . because they value those opportunities and protections provided to us here,” Jackson told Diverse Education. “And, whether those individuals will continue to see Wisconsin as the safe haven it has been for professors, I imagine that it’s going to be . . . increasingly leaning toward possibly seeing other places as equally or more desirable.”

Jackson also discussed how conversation, even without action, about the changes in the UW system could be enough to push administrators and faculty away from Wisconsin and toward other institutions.

“If now they feel that confidence has been eroded at the institution, then you might be able to get them out of [the UW system], when you might not have been able to get them out of there before,” Jackson said.

A collaboration between the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB), which is part of UW-Madison’s School of Education, will study intercollegiate athletics departments with the goal of offering suggestions for improving hiring practices and workplace environments.

The National Study of Intercollegiate Athletics, which officially launches in June, will assist colleges and universities analyze their athletics departments in terms of diversity and inclusion by providing a comprehensive overview of their hiring practices and existing perceptions of the work environment in their departments, according to Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson.

“This study will help to fill a knowledge gap that results in too many assumptions being made as to the intents of individuals or the fairness of processes,” Jackson said. “The information we’re gathering has the potential to help every institution that elects to participate.”

Key to the relationship is privacy, as the report the Wei LAB will produce for participating athletic departments will not be made public. The privacy is intended to allow participating departments to have a more open dialogue with the Wei LAB and MOAA about the study’s findings, Jackson said.

“We want to make this information available to each athletic department to help them do a much better job in understanding how their hiring practices are similar or different than their peers. We don’t want shame to affect participation – it’s important for departments to understand that the study is intended to be an educational experience, for them and for us,” he said.

Vital to the study’s launch and continued success is Jackson’s relationship with former University of Wisconsin–Madison Deputy Athletic Director T. Frazier, who now serves as the Athletic Director at Northern Illinois University. Frazier is a past president of MOAA, an organization that promotes equitable employment opportunities for minorities in the athletics industry.

“This study parallels our mission and we look forward to help contribute and promote best practices for diversity and inclusion,” Frazier said.

Jackson said the initiative to launch the NSIA emerged out of frustration from athletic directors in the challenges they faced in their attempts to change the culture of their departments.

“Many of them knew that their institutions weren’t doing well in their efforts to diversify their departments, but they didn’t know why,” Jackson said. “There was no data and without data, everything was left to speculation.”

The system designed by the Wei LAB centers its investigation of each athletic department into four categories: athletic administrator career trajectories and career ambitions, senior-level administrator searches, athletic administrator hiring practices and workplace climate.

That individual-level data can help athletic directors understand how their departments are perceived by their own current and potential future employees, and give them answers as to why they might have difficulty recruiting or advancing minority employees, Jackson said.

“There’s no way to know exactly what your employees think unless you ask them, and this process is designed to get those honest answers. A senior administrator job may be perceived as more secure than the athletic director role, or there may be the perception that the university wouldn’t be receptive to a minority candidate. Or it could just be that the person who would be a great athletic director just likes the job he or she already has,” Jackson said.

After a school’s assessment is complete, representatives from the Wei LAB and MOAA meet with those who commissioned the study to help interpret the findings and offer suggestions for next steps.

“The Wei LAB’s role is limited to helping you understand the data, while MOAA will be more active in working with athletic directors to help them think differently about how they may want to structure their hiring processes and engage groups that work at their institutions to be more inclusive,” Jackson said.

The NSIA is available to colleges and universities with NCAA Division I, II and III programs as well as minority-serving institutions and two-year colleges. As more data is collected, the Wei LAB will be able to sort by various categories within and between divisions and conferences, allowing athletic directors to compare their own departments to others across the country. The new data will also allow the Wei LAB and MOAA to improve their understanding of how equitable work environments are created and maintained, and allow MOAA to provide better advice and suggestions for improvement of workplace climates.

The end goal, according to Jackson and Frazier, is to reduce and eventually eliminate glass ceilings in athletic departments at postsecondary institutions.

“We are trying to provide a real metric around hiring and workplace environment satisfaction in university athletic departments around the country, which hasn’t been done before at the level we are planning to accomplish,” Jackson said. “It’s a goal which I think can be accomplished because a majority of these institutions want to change, they just don’t know how. We want the NSIA to be their first step toward better decision-making and system creation on the national level, hopefully resulting in more equity in representation of people from underrepresented backgrounds in the leadership of intercollegiate athletics.”

Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson has recently been featured prominently in media outlets with national reach.
Jackson’s work and life were the subject of a feature article in the May 22, 2015 edition of the Madison Times. The article, “Developments in Diversity: How UW’s Wei LAB is Leading the Way,” covers Jackson’s interest in administrative diversity and the reasons for his founding of the Wei LAB, which under his direction, has taken on several ground-breaking and major research projects.

Jackson is also Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education. According to the article, “The main principle of university’s Wisconsin Idea – ‘To improve people’s lives beyond the classroom’– is exemplified in the work of Dr. Jackson and the Wei LAB. The core of what they do – all of their research, projects, presentations, and books – are created with the intention of improving the educational atmosphere and lives of people within those organizations both locally and beyond.”
Previously, an article in Diverse Issues in Higher Education explored the impact of a cadre of prominent academics, including Jackson, who have worked both individually and collectively to study the status of African-Americans throughout the educational pipeline. Jackson was also featured in a profile on the home page of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The article follows Jackson’s path from being the first member of his family to attend college, through his following the footsteps of George Washington Carver to attend graduate school at Iowa State University, to eventually becoming the first African American in UW–Madison’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis to earn tenure and as the first to gain a named professorship.

The article lauds Jackson’s involvement in a half-dozen major projects, including an exploration of glass-ceiling effects in academia, an initiative to encourage more African American students to pursue computer science, and a survey of hiring practices in Division I, II, and III athletic departments.

According to the article, “Jackson is known for barraging unwitting collaborators with phone calls, text messages, or emails at all hours of the day or night, sharing his excitement about a new idea or impatiently seeking an answer to a suddenly pressing question. He refuses to settle for a good discussion, demanding from himself and his colleagues ‘actionable solutions to change the world.”

Following a pledge made last year in response to President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) challenge, Madison, Wisconsin. Mayor Paul Soglin announced the city’s own initiatives to tackle racial disparities at a news conference on June 5, 2015.

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson stood with Soglin and other civic and community leaders to introduce the Madison-specific measures that seek to bolster young men of color, ensuring they reach their full potential (A full video of the event is available here).

“I was delighted to see Madison among the communities to accept the challenge by President Obama. I was also pleased to lend the expertise of the Wei LAB to support the City of Madison and Dane County as they prioritize the advancement of males of color in the community,” Jackson said.

In 2014, Obama introduced the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to combat the persistent and pervasive opportunity gaps facing people of color across the U.S., and encouraging communities across the country to take on the responsibility of minimizing these gaps. MBK is focused on achieving six important milestones: getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn; reading at grade level by third grade; graduating from high school ready for college and career; completing postsecondary education or training; successfully entering the workforce; and keeping kids on track and giving them second chances.

Madison was among 100 early acceptors of the MBK challenge and has proceeded by following the MBK handbook guidelines, which lists four critical steps for participating communities to pursue: 1) accept the President’s challenge; 2) convene a ‘Local Action Summit’ to build an MBK Community; 3) conduct a policy review and form recommendations for action; and 4) launch a plan of action, next steps and a timetable for review. At present, the City is preparing to launch a plan of action.

Based on answers provided by surveyed youth, the City of Madison selected two goals: (1) ensuring youth graduate from high school and (2) keeping youth safe from violent crime. Madison’s initiative will pursue full-service schooling for all children, emphasizing family, health and community support in addition to academics, and a renewed focus by local law enforcement on restorative justice. The two programs are being presented to the national leadership of MBK as examples of how a community can proceed after it has accepted the MBK challenge.

At the news conference, Mayor Soglin highlighted Jackson, Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a key information resource for the city’s initiatives. Soglin identified Jackson as an expert in the systems the city is trying to improve, while also referring to the Wei LAB as “one of the great secrets of our community.” The Wei LAB is working with the presidential leadership of MBK on multiple programs throughout the nation. Jackson said he is eager to put the expertise of the Wei LAB to use to improve Madison. In mid-June, Jackson visited the White House to present two other initiatives the Wei LAB recommends for inclusion in the MBK challenge.

“Hopefully in the very near future the work that we are doing here will be presented in the Oval Office as a stellar example of what changes can occur when a community comes together with the right kind of commitment,” Jackson said.

The City of Madison has a longstanding tradition of engagement with issues dedicated to eradicating obstacles of opportunity, particularly for young boys and men of color. This fall, the Wei LAB will officially launch the PROMISE Project; a cross sector problem-solving platform that aligns and advances community efforts focused on eliminating educational and workforce disparities across Wisconsin. The LAB has partnered with a host of community agents who have been at the table, and played a significant role in Madison’s MBK, such as the United Way of Dane County, the Urban League of Greater Madison, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Area Technical College, the Justified Anger Coalition, XL Academics, and the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male at the Ohio State University. Dr. Lesley-Anne Pittard, the Wei LAB’s Chief Liaison for cultivating and managing external partnerships, is responsible for coordination of the Wei LAB’s outreach and collaborative efforts for this initiative.

Wei LAB Director and Chief Research Scientist Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson is quoted in a Houston Chronicle article covering the University of Houston’s efforts to gain membership into the Association of American Universities (AAU).

The article, “UH Wants Invitation to Elite Club,” was published on April 30, 2015. The piece reported on the university’s attempt to join the prestigious AAU. Membership is by invitation only, but according to the article, UH officials and experts believe joining the AAU would help to raise the profile of higher education institutions in Texas.

The AAU maintains a relatively small, exclusive membership of universities that exhibit excellence in research programs and graduate education. Member universities are expected to maintain high-quality research and education, with membership discontinuation a possibility if the institution’s profile falls below AAU standards.

“It’s going to be a long road, that’s for sure, but is it impossible? No,” Jackson said in the article. “Can the state of Texas decide they want to increase the number of AAU institutions and invest in higher education at that level? Absolutely. Is the city of Houston equally attractive as Chicago or L.A. or some places that have drawn on their location to raise their profile? Sure. But it would need to be a very serious commitment to want to be an AAU institution.”

Jihye Kam, a Survey Research Associate for the Wei LAB, presented her research on Korean male students’ experiences on a college campus following compulsory military service at the 59th Annual Conference of Comparative and International Education Society paper session in Washington D.C. on March 9, 2015.

As law, Korean males over the age of 18 must serve in the military for about two years before they turn 38 years old, except in cases of disabilities or special circumstances. Kam’s study, “Korean Male College Student Campus Integration in Post Compulsory Military Service: Motivations and Challenges” sought to understand to what extent military service affects the students’ engagement and assimilation into college upon their enrollment or return to school.

Kam’s study suggests that Korean male student veterans are more engaged in academic and social contexts on campus immediately after returning from service. However, the findings also revealed that this engagement diminishes over time as students encounter organizational barriers that prohibit them from reaching top levels within institutions, thus resulting in their decreased engagement on campus.

In its conclusion, Kam’s study recommends more long-term support programs for student veterans, as the transition process from active duty to student life continues not just upon the students’ arrival on campus, but throughout subsequent years as well.

Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) commemorated its fifth year of operations in diversity and equity research with a celebration held on May 8, 2015 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. The event was attended by noted public and university figures, community partners, and Wei LAB staff. It featured a program of speakers, as well as a commemorative cake and ice cream social following the event.

Among the speakers at the event were: Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Director and Chief Research Scientist of the Wei LAB and Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis; Dr. Ruben Anthony, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison, who offered his commemorative remarks on the LAB’s work; Dr. LaVar J. Charleston, Assistant Director of the LAB, who unveiled the Wei LAB’s 5th Year Commemorative Logo; and Robert Mathieu, Director of Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER), who highlighted the Wei LAB’s achievements within WCER and the field of education research.

Additional speakers included Dr. Lesley-Anne Pittard, Chief Liaison for External and Strategic Partnerships of the Wei LAB, who served as the mistress of ceremonies; Darrell Bazzell, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at UW-Madison, who discussed the Wei LAB’s relevance in the changing economy of UW-Madison ; Patrick J. Sims, Vice Provost for Diversity at UW-Madison, who commemorated the value of partnership with the Wei LAB; Dr. Rev. Alex Gee, President and Founder of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, who expressed the importance of a problem-solving mindset for a better Wisconsin; John Odom, President of Odom & Associates, who spoke of the value of research units in serving communities; and Dawn Crim, Associate Dean for External Relations at the UW-Madison School of Education, who discussed the Wei LAB’s educational impacts.

“It was exciting to arrive to the event to see the group of speakers that agreed to be on the program along with a room full of attendees to celebrate the work of the Wei LAB, ,” Jackson said. “Hearing the speakers talk about the impact of the Wei LAB on campus, in the community, in education research, and globally was a humbling experience. It certainly motivated me to do more over the next five years.”

Since founding the Wei LAB in May 2010, Dr. Jackson and his team of researchers have been at the forefront of empirically-based, data-driven solutions related to equity and diversity in education by conducting and disseminating research that informs the faculty and staff, policymakers, practitioners and other concerned citizens about the best practices for creating equitable and inclusive working and learning environments. With five successful years of significant contributions to the field of education, the Wei LAB is looking forward to future endeavors with the operational slogan, “Adopt a Problem-Solving Mindset” for 2015.

African American women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields face challenges unique to their race and gender, according to a recent article co-authored by Wei LAB Director Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Assistant Director LaVar J. Charleston, and Research Associates Jonathan Berhanu and Mauriell H. Amechi, as well as Assistant Professor Phillis L. George from the department of Leadership and Counselor Education at the University of Mississippi.

The research article, “Navigating Underrepresented STEM Spaces: Experiences of Black Women in U.S. Computing Science Higher Education Programs Who Actualize Success,” was published in the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Volume 7, Number 3. The paper seeks to understand the living, learning and working realities of Black women in STEM fields, and their strategies for successfully navigating a field traditionally dominated by White males.

Speaking on the significance of the study, Charleston said, “Women and minorities often experience social isolation in highly technological educational and occupational spaces. In a field like computing that can be socially isolating in and of itself, it is imperative that we understand and recognize the barriers to broadening participation so that we can make the necessary policy adjustments to truly ensure equal opportunity of success in all STEM fields, including computing sciences.”

George articulates the importance of bringing the voices of this demographic forward, saying, “The power of voice is truly extraordinary, and this study speaks truth to transcendent power by amplifying the voices of African American women in the computing sciences. This demographic has been traditionally silenced in STEM education. Their journeys, struggles, and triumphs are often overlooked.”

In the article, Charleston and colleagues bring to light the absence of Black women’s experiences and voices in STEM fields like computing sciences. They argue that Black women face unwelcoming environments in STEM doctoral programs as a result of isolation due to both race and gender. The National Science Board reports that while more than 70 percent of the nation’s scientists and engineers are White, only four percent of doctoral degrees in science and engineering are held by African Americans, and even fewer by Black women.

“In this study we appreciate the opportunity to give voice to Black women in the sciences, especially when research is often silent about them in these male-dominated spaces,” Jackson said.

The researchers relied on critical race feminism and Black feminist thought as frameworks for the participants’ self-identity and social interactions, and used qualitative data and analysis to gain a better understanding of each woman’s personal experiences. Throughout focus group sessions, the women in the study described feelings of isolation and subordination, and detailed the sacrifices Black women have to make in the process of obtaining a degree.

The findings indicate that for Black women pursuing STEM fields, the intersection of race and gender present significant barriers to degree attainment. Participants indicated they experienced an unwelcoming atmosphere in their department due to what they perceived as biases against women, and to a greater extent, being African American.

“This study affirms that African American women in computing science and other STEM disciplines face distinctive challenges which are compounded by critical issues of race and gender. Candidly speaking, their academic and personal journeys are not for the faint of heart. Findings from this study are unique because they highlight varying degrees of personal and professional sacrifice as well as coping mechanisms and tools that these talented and arguably courageous women use to navigate isolated STEM spaces,” George said.

The article offers three main contributions to the study of this unique demographic. First, the research illuminates the inseparable relationship that race and gender play in the lives of Black women in STEM fields. Second, the inquiry attests to a racist and sexist environment that exists in STEM educational spaces. Finally, this study reiterates the significant role institutional culture plays when considering participation of minority groups in underrepresented areas and fields.

The researchers offer several suggestions for improving educational spaces for Black women in STEM fields in general, and computing in particular. Most importantly, they recommend faculty in the field to re-examine the biases and prejudices they have toward minority groups. The study also calls for student support networks, which would give women of color a secure place to discuss their experiences and collaborate on methods to successfully navigate difficult situations. The authors also echo national appeals for increased representation of students and faculty of color in computing fields and industries. The researchers conclude that these methods of improvement in STEM fields may help mitigate the isolation and insensitivity many Black women experience in predominantly White institutions and fields, thus leading to greater participation in STEM fields from underrepresented populations.

Wei LAB’s Nicole Lang has been selected as a 2015 American Education Research Association (AERA) Undergraduate Research fellow and will participate in the prestigious 2015 AERA Undergraduate Student Education Research Training Workshop, part of the 2015 AERA Annual Meeting in Chicago April 16 to18.

Fellows, all undergraduate students who intend to go on to study education-related topics in graduate school, are chosen for the workshop through a highly competitive applications process. Fellows in the program are assigned mentors to guide them through lessons on research design, methods and application in educational practice and policy.

Lang, a Research Assistant for the Wei LAB, is a junior at the University of Wisconsin–Madison studying psychology and political science. Her work in the Wei LAB concentrates on academic outcomes of students in STEM fields and student athletes. She hopes to go on to study student athletes of color and their academic developments.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to learn more about educational research at the AERA workshop, and am excited to gain new skills that will bolster not only my work at the Wei LAB but also my future endeavors,” Lang said.

Walter Parrish, Research Associate for the Wei LAB, has been appointed to the search and screen committee that will select the next vice provost for diversity/chief diversity officer of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Parrish has been serving on the committee as a graduate student representative. Currently, the committee is holding preliminary interviews with candidates; the vice provost finalist interviews are anticipated to take place in mid-April.

Parrish is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, specializing in higher, postsecondary and continuing education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in addition to his research at the Wei LAB. His research interests focus on how organizational culture and workplace diversity affects the experiences of marginalized faculty and administrators in higher education.

Before coming to UW–Madison, Parrish was the Assistant Director for Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education at George Mason University. Parrish, a native of Philadelphia, has also traveled abroad to study the higher education systems in Hong Kong and Macau.

Dr. LaVar J. Charleston, Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate for the Wei LAB, was appointed to serve on the search committee for the new dean of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Charleston will work with other search and screen committee members to recommend a candidate as the new dean to head the top-ranked public school of education in the country. Each member of the committee was selected to represent the university as a whole with the goal of finding the most qualified candidate for the position.

As assistant director and senior research associate, Charleston is coordinator of the Wei LAB’s research and evaluation division and directs the lab’s junior research associates. His research focuses on graduate school preparation and success, with particular expertise in underrepresented student groups and students interested in STEM fields. Charleston also teaches in the School of Education’s Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis department.

Charleston is currently an editorial board member for the Journal of African American Males in Education where he was previously a review board member, a reviewer for the American Educational Research Journal (Social and Institutional Analysis), a guest reviewer for a special edition of Teachers College Record, and he was previously a reviewer for the Journal of Science Education and Technology. Charleston’s prior appointments include Assistant Director for the Development and Marketing at the Center for African American Research and Policy, as well as Associate Editor of the Annuals of the Next Generation journal.