Rutgers University has received a $15 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to establish the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice. The grant will support policy reform research, social justice initiatives and more at the university's campuses in New Brunswick, Camden and Newark.
“The nation is at a tipping point with respect to racial and social justice," Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway.
“This grant will enable Rutgers, an institution older than the country itself, to be an international leader in understanding the causes, effects and solutions to problems that have plagued the world.”
The establishment of the new institute comes less than six months into Holloway's first term as president of the university. Earlier this year, he was installed as the first Black president in school history. Under Holloway's leadership, the school will encourage educators to investigate issues of racial injustice in order to create more inclusive and comprehensive learning environments.
“It will bring together scholars from all disciplines so that the product of their work can help to inform real-world decisions about solutions to the problems that have, at long last, been thrust into sharp focus in this country and around the globe,” Holloway said.
Even with the grant, Rutgers is encouraging others to donate resources to the institute throughout the academic year.
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