History of the Program
In 1992, a chancellor’s advisory committee on diversity and inclusion was formed. Reginald J. Thomas, then Assistant Professor of Music, served on the committee with Chemistry Professor Emil F. Jason (1927-2002). This committee was charged with devising a diversity plan for the University. Jason asserted that the University needed a person of color on the senior administrative level. The position of Assistant Provost for Culture and Social Diversity was established, and Professor Rudolph “Rudy” G. Wilson (1935-2017) was the first to hold this title. Wilson established the Black American Studies Program, which was initially housed in his office as a collection of interdisciplinary courses that constituted a minor in Black American Studies.
In 1992, under the leadership of Dean Kent Neely, it was determined the Black American Studies program should be moved to the College of Arts and Sciences. Thomas was then appointed as the Director of Black American Studies and he changed the program name to the Black Studies program to capture the African diasporic nature of the program. Thomas continued to serve as the Director of the program until 2007.
Professor of Literature Howard Rambsy II was appointed Director of the Black Studies program in 2007 and he served in that role until 2013. Professor of Music Prince Wells was named the Director in 2013 and he served until 2018. Jessica Harris, Associate Professor of History, was the Director of the program from August 2017 to January 2018, at which time Professor of History Bryan Jack was named Interim Director of Black Studies.
In 2018, the Black Studies would recieve an erudite hand at the helm in the person of the incomparable Kathryn Bentley, Associate Professor of Theater Performance. Kathyrn also served as the Creative Director of the Black Theater Workshop (BTW). She tirelessly advocated for the legitimacy of Black Studies as an academic discipline, spearheading the Black Studies Feasibility Report, which provided concrete data-driven steps on advancing the program at SIUE. She brought visibility to the program and was instrumental in a wide range of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across campus. Kathyrn's commitment to the Black Studies program was unquestionable and evident until her retirement in 2024.
In October of 2024, Dr. Timothy E. Lewis, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, was named Director of Black Studies and is working not only to sustain but grow the program, building on the legacy of previous directors.
