May 31, 2024
Participant Application Deadline
June 17, 2024
Anticipated Applicant Decision Day
October 3, 2024
Ujima institute begins
September 10, 2024
Ujima Institute
Division/Group Events Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Black Diaspora Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Division Mid-Level
October 3 - October 5, 2024 Atlanta, GA
The 2024 NASPA Ujima Institute is designed for African American and Black higher education professionals who aspire to senior student affairs officer roles and faculty positions, including the cabinet-level vice president for student affairs positions at colleges and universities. The Institute is appropriate for emerging leaders in associate director, director, assistant/associate dean, dean, and AVP roles. This three-day, cohort-based institute offers an intensive, challenging, and collegial learning environment for student affairs professionals as they develop culturally relevant leadership skills that leverage their unique ethnic heritages and histories and prepare to lead increasingly diverse institutions.
Presented By
About
Ujima is the third principle of Kwanzaa and embodies an active commitment to the collective and to shared liberation. Inherent to the principle of Ujima is sharing in one another's achievements and hardships. Ujima, as a practice, assumes that the reconstruction of the history and humanity of the African diaspora is a fundamental part of the struggle for human liberation.
The principle of Ujima serves as the foundation for this institute, which has been envisioned and developed by senior level leaders committed to investing in building successive generations of student affairs leaders with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to build vibrant, diverse, global, and socially just higher education environments.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE MODEL
In this cohort-based institute, participants will learn from senior student affairs leaders, who will share their journeys, lessons, and advice. To facilitate learning and enrichment, participants will be grouped for some parts of the institute into functional level tracks and for other parts of the institute into small group cohorts.
This professional development pathways program is designed for self-identified Black and African American student affairs professionals with three or more years of higher education administrative experience. The application process will include an online form and submission of a current CV/resume.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Chart a plan for professional growth that address key competencies, career discernment, and personal values
- Experience safe space to share and strategize about navigating institutional challenges and politics with integrity and cultural alignment
- Develop mentoring relationships with senior student affairs leaders invested in your success
Use this hashtag to see what others are sharing #UJIMA24
History
Established in 2019 with co-founding Institute Directors Dr. Crasha V. Townsend and Dr. David E. Jones and NASPA Fellow Robert Page, the NASPA Ujima Institute is designed to allow Black higher education professionals an intentional mentoring and coaching experience with selected faculty mentors, who serve as vice presidents for student affairs or tenured faculty in a higher education program at their respective institutions. The experience will help Black higher education professionals develop skills within the core competencies of the institute. This will provide participants with an opportunity to share ideas, strategies, and programs centered on mentoring and networking so that professionals can get “tools” to take back to their campuses that promote, encourage, and create inclusive experiences fr students.
Since its first institute in November 2019, the NASPA Ujima Institute has produced 165 alumni from a diverse representation of colleges and universities across the United States. Alumni represent institutions that are private and public, small and large schools, community colleges and 4-year institutions. The NASPA Ujima Institute was held at Florida Atlantic University in November 2019 and Morgan State University in November 2022. The institute is a three-day intensive and extensive experience with sessions, featured speakers, small group discussions, and dedicated time with faculty mentors. Each day of the institute is framed under one of the Kwanzaa principles to center the institute on being a Black community of higher education professionals grounded on unity, liberation and excellence.
Core Team
2024 Faculty
Keynote Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Sample Schedule
Thursday |
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Theme for the Day – Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose encourages us to look within ourselves and to set personal goals that are beneficial to the community.
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| 8:00am - 9:00am |
Registration and Breakfast
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| 9:00am – 9:20am | Welcome |
| 9:20am-10:00 am |
Community Building Exercise
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| 10:00am – 10:40 |
Morning Keynote -
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| 10:45am - 11:00am | Institute Break |
| 11:00am - 12:15pm |
Lunch Welcome- Host Institution
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| 12:30pm - 1:50pm | Featured Session |
| 2:00pm - 3:15pm |
Small Group Cohorts: Making the Most of Your Ujima Experience
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| 3:15pm - 3:30pm | Institute Break |
| 3:40pm - 4:30pm |
Networking Sessions (3 Breakout Rooms)
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These sessions will break into specific topics and discuss various issues that face higher education administrators.
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| 4:30pm – 5:30 pm | Free Time |
| *Faculty Meeting | Conference Room |
| 5:30pm – 6:30pm |
Opening Networking Reception (Open bar and light refreshments)
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Hosted by: Sponsoring Institution
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Shuttle back to hotel
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Dinner on your own
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Friday |
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Theme for the Day Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith focuses on honoring the best of our traditions, draws upon the best in ourselves, and helps us strive for a higher level of life for humankind, by affirming our self-worth and confidence in our ability to succeed and triumph in righteous struggle.
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| 8:30am - 9:00am |
Continental Breakfast & Welcome - Ballroom
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| 9:10am - 10:10am | Featured Session |
| 10:15am – 11:00am | Featured Session |
| 11:10am - 12:10pm |
Small Group Cohorts:
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| 12:15pm - 1:25pm | Lunch & Learn |
| 1:30pm - 1:45pm | Group Pictures |
| 1:45pm - 2:45pm |
General Session Ballroom
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| 3:50 PM | Institute Break |
| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Networking Grit & Grind Sessions
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These 30 minute sessions will allow participants the opportunity to discuss various issues that face higher education administrators in a rotating format. Each participant will be able to choose at least two topics.
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| 5:30 PM | Featured Session |
| Free time | |
| 6:30pm - 7:45pm |
Ujima Institute Dinner Ballroom
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7:45pm Shuttle Back to hotel
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Saturday |
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Theme for the Day - Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."
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| 9:00am - 9:50am |
Closing Small Group Cohorts: Reflection Time
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| 10:00am - 11:30am |
Kujichagulia: Closing Brunch & Ceremony - Ballroom
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| 12:00 PM | Departure |
Costs
Estimated Program Costs
For planning purposes, we want to share the following estimated program costs to participate in the 2024 Ujima Institute:
- Registration: $495 members, $695 for non-members (includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner and a reception with light hors d'ouevres ; (one dinner will be pay-your-own); registration link will be shared with selected participants)
- Hotel Group Rate estimated to be $179+ tax per night.
- Transportation: Nearest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- The program will begin at 9am on Thursday, October 3rd and conclude at 12pm on Saturday, October 5th.
Registration
Registration is now open for admitted participants. Instructions for registration have been emailed to all participants. For questions, email kbradley@naspa.org
Registration Deadline September 10, 2024 11:59PM PST
Venue
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College, both of which hold unique places in the annals of African-American history. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African-Americans. CAU is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions.
Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African-American student population. Today, with over 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium.
Spelman College
Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, we became Spelman College in 1924. Now a global leader in the education of women of African descent, Spelman is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and we are proud members of the Atlanta University Center Consortium.
Today Spelman's student body comprises more than 2,100 students from 43 states and 10 foreign countries. Spelman empowers women to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change through service. They are dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical and leadership development of our students.
Hotel
The institute hotel for participants will be the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
| Hotel | Room Rate / Night |
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Hyatt Regency Atlanta 265 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
$179/Night |
Sponsors
Interested in exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities at the 2024 NASPA Ujima Institute? Click below to apply today!
Questions? Contact Fred Comparato by phone at 202-719-1179 or via email at FComparato@naspa.org.
NASPA Global Health, Safety, and Responsibility
To view the latest on NASPA's on-site health and safety participation guidleines visit The NASPA Global Health, Safety, and Responsibility Website
Former Faculty
2019
David Jones, Institute Co-Director |
Crasha Townsend, Institute Co-Director |
Nina Patterson Caldwell, Faculty |
Phillip Cockrell, Faculty |
Tammara Durham, Faculty |
Felicia McGinty, Faculty |
Brian McGowan, Faculty |
2022
David Jones, Institute Co-Director |
Crasha Townsend, Institute Co-Director |
Phillip Flapp Cockrell, Faculty |
Natasha Croom, Faculty |
Kim Lowry, Faculty |
Jason Pina, Faculty |
Scholarships
With funding from the NASPA Foundation, a limited number of scholarships are available for NASPA members who are accepted into the Ujima Institute. Visit the NASPA Foundation Access Scholarship website to learn more about eligibility and to apply by the June 15th deadline.
Nominations
This professional development pathways program is designed for self-identified Black and African American student affairs professionals with three or more years of higher education administrative experience who are currently working for an institution in a mid-level supervisory role or above including associate director, director, assistant/associate dean, dean, and AVP roles.
Know of someone else who fits this description? Nominate them to apply today.