Visiting Scholars are Driven by Community in Latest Report from the Proctor Institute and CMSI!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Natalie Passov | natalie.passov@gse.rutgers.edu | 848-932-0728
New Brunswick, N.J., February 23, 2023 – The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute of Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) and the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) are proud to announce the release of their latest report, “Driven By Community: Contributions from the Visiting Scholars Program.” The report highlights the scholarship of the Visiting Scholars cohort, the diversity of its members, and how the program benefits its participants.
Through the Visiting Scholars program, we aim to mentor the scholars and create national exposure for their research and practice. The report presents the various contributions of Visiting Scholars since the program’s inception in 2019 and spotlights the cohort’s varying research interests and areas of expertise.
“The program was designed for academics and practitioners to ensure that valuable knowledge is being passed on to the next generation of scholars,” shared Marybeth Gasman, Executive Director of the Proctor Institute and CMSI. “Our goal is to guide budding researchers and scholars to make a significant impact on K-12 and postsecondary education.”
Additionally, the report delves into the different types of professional development workshops that are offered throughout the program and how each session is formatted to “encourage cross-institutional collaboration.” This approach fosters an environment where scholars are not only receiving mentorship from the Proctor Institute and CMSI, but also from one another.
“The Visiting Scholars program has helped me learn about different aspects of higher education — from publishing research in peer-reviewed outlets to applying for positions,” said Lance Kyle Bennett, the Associate Director of Assessment and Accreditation for the Office of Programs, Accreditation, and Assessment at The University of Texas at Dallas. “This is a tremendous opportunity for those who are looking to advance their career in higher education.”
Additionally, the report includes the results of a survey aimed at gauging the cohort’s experiences with the program. Findings point to the significance of building community and growing networks with about 85-90% of scholars citing this aspect as a benefit. This community, in turn, creates a safe space and opportunities for research collaboration with 70% and 60% of scholars, respectively, citing these as noteworthy strengths of the program.
“For academics and practitioners alike, forging meaningful connections with fellow professionals is the key to building a stable career,” mentioned Natalie Passov, one of the report authors and the Program Communications and Research Coordinator at the Proctor Institute and CMSI. “The community that the Visiting Scholars program fosters is strong, positive, and welcoming, and their valuable contributions are truly wonderful to see.”
The report can be found here.
About the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) is a national center that focuses on issues of leadership, equity, and justice within the context of higher education. It brings together researchers, practitioners and community members to work toward the common goals of diversifying leadership, enhancing equity, and fostering justice for all. The Proctor Institute is located at Rutgers University—New Brunswick, in the Graduate School of Education and houses the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI). Learn more at https://proctor.gse.rutgers.edu.
About the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions
The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) brings together researchers and practitioners from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. CMSI’s goals include: elevating the educational contributions of MSIs; ensuring that they are a part of national conversations; bringing awareness to the vital role MSIs play in the nation’s economic development; increasing the rigorous scholarship of MSIs; connecting MSIs’ academic and administrative leadership to promote reform initiatives; and strengthening efforts to close educational achievement gaps among disadvantaged communities. The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions is part of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity and Justice (Proctor Institute) at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. For further information about CMSI, please visit http://cmsi.gse.rutgers.edu/.
