Joseph L. White

California State University, Northridge’s Department of Pan African Studies DuBois-Hamer Institute for Academic Achievement will examine issues such as the social and emotional development of African-American children, the pathways to inclusive teaching and various methods of engaging African-American male students as part of a series of lectures this fall.

“The institute will assist the department in promoting scholarly inquiry among students, staff and faculty through research and collaboration,” said Pan African studies professor Cedric Hackett ’95 (Sociology/Counseling), M.A. ’00 (Educational Psychology and Counseling), director of the DuBois-Hamer Institute. “We are providing important lectures around issues concerning the black community.”

This month, Joseph L. White, emeritus professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine and one of the individuals who laid the groundwork for the growth of multicultural studies nationwide, will discuss “Pathways to Inclusive Teaching and Learning Excellence in the 21st Century” on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the University Student Union’s Northridge Center.

While White’s main field of study was clinical psychology, during his nearly three-decades-long career, he focused much of his attention on mentoring African-American students and developing curriculum that catered to the needs of students of color. In 1968, White helped found the Association of Black Psychologists, which contributed to the increase in the number of blacks pursuing careers in psychology and challenged the traditional psychological theories used to study black Americans. He is also credited with helping to establish the Educational Opportunities Program at California State University, Long Beach, which became the foundation for a similar program implemented across the California State University system.

Dyrell Foster

Dyrell Foster, dean of students at Rio Hondo College, will discuss “Understanding the Student Engagement Experiences of African-American Males” on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the University Student Union’s Grand Salon. The event will include poster presentations on black men from students enrolled in the Pan African studies class  “Black Men in Contemporary Times.”

Foster has served as dean of student affairs at Rio Hondo College for two years. He has previously served as the associate dean of counseling and the director of student life at Mt. San Antonio College. He is president-elect of the African American Male Education and Network Development Organization.

The DuBois-Hamer Institute for Academic Achievement was founded in 1997. It is one of several research institutes in the Department of Pan African Studies. The institute’s mission is to promote student success through community and campus partnerships.

For more information about the speakers series, contact Cedric Hackett at (818) 677-3311 or email Cedric Hackett  or visit the institute’s website.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Pan African Studies, DuBois-Hamer Institute for Academic Achievement