Race and Racism in Higher Education

Taking up historical and contemporary issues of race and systemic racism, in the U.S. and across the globe, this talk will review the mission and specific activities of Notre Dame’s new Initiative on Race and Resilience.

Mark Sanders is a professor of English and Africana studies and director of the Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience. Global in scope and comparative and interdisciplinary in critical approach, the Initiative on Race and Resilience promotes multiracial collaboration, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and inclusive pedagogy.

With 20 departments across the humanities, arts, and social sciences, the College of Arts and Letters is home to exceptional faculty and talented students who are studying what they love. It’s an environment to ask big questions, read classic texts, and explore languages and cultures. We’re not just about learning through acquisition. We’re about learning through exploration. Our undergraduate students travel the globe to research topics that fascinate them, then turn their observations into conclusions about the world. Through the liberal arts, you learn to read deeply. Think about issues critically. Discuss topics thoughtfully. Write arguments persuasively. Contribute to projects creatively. And these abilities aren’t just vital in the classroom—they’re exactly what employers, graduate schools, and service organizations are looking for.