ASU scholar-in-residence to offer lessons in diversity

The Faculty Women of Color Caucus at Arizona State University is pleased to welcome Menah Pratt-Clarke, a leader in institutional transformation in higher education, as its 2020 scholar-in-residence.

Each year, the caucus selects an established scholar to visit the ASU campus to meet with faculty, students and administration on negotiating issues related to diversity and inclusion within the classroom and within the university as a whole, especially as they relate to race, class and gender. 

“The program enacts FWOCC’s mission to promote ongoing dialogue about inclusion across the university and to integrate issues of diversity, access, and equity into the university’s mission,” said caucus President Ersula Ore. “We look forward to engaging Dr. Pratt-Clarke in meaningful dialogue during her visit to ASU.”

Pratt-Clarke is the vice president for strategic affairs and diversity, vice provost of inclusion and diversity, and professor of education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) She served 10 years as the associate chancellor for strategic affairs, associate provost for diversity at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In these positions, Pratt-Clarke has led successful efforts to develop and implement universitywide strategic plans addressing inclusion and diversity. She is recognized for her interdisciplinary contributions that span from law and sociology to literature, philosophy, African American studies and education.

Pratt-Clarke is the author of the book “A Black Woman’s Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in America,” which was awarded the American Education Studies Association 2018 Critics’ Choice Book Award. The book will be the focus of a scheduled book group discussion among ASU faculty and students ahead of Pratt-Clarke’s arrival to ASU this month.

Upon her arrival, Pratt-Clarke, like previous scholars-in-residence will meet with ASU graduate students, administrators and caucus membership to discuss and advise them on their respective concerns and interests.

Faculty Women of Color Caucus past scholars-in-residence include Rusty Barceló, Dorothy Roberts, Eduardo Bonilla Silva and Derald Wing Sue.

“The scholar-in-residence program provides an opportunity for representatives of the administration, the faculty, and graduate or law students to interact in smaller groups with highly respected scholars who have focused their research and teaching on critical aspects of ongoing endeavors to foster diversity and strengthen inclusion,” said Stanlie James, vice provost for inclusion and community engagement at ASU.

Pratt-Clarke’s keynote address is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Old Main Carson Ballroom at ASU's Tempe campus.