Trailblazing Like No Other
Institutions of higher learning have the power to transform lives. At Tulane, this begins by making our community a more inclusive and supportive home for all.
Portrait in Bravery
The School of Social Work unveiled an original artwork honoring Tulane Trailblazers Gloria Bryant Banks, Pearlie Hardin Elloie and Marilyn Piper, the first African American graduate students to earn degrees from the School of Social Work and among the first to graduate from Tulane. Renowned artist Terrance Osborne created the vivid, one-of-a-kind painting that recognizes the trio for their contributions at Tulane and beyond.
School of Professional Advancement Honors John Lewis
As part of the President's Tulane Trailblazers Initiative, the public administration program at the School of Professional Advancement now bears the name of one the nation’s most beloved members of Congress, the late John Lewis, a civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. The John Lewis Public Administration Program was introduced in a ceremony in October, with President Michael A. Fitts calling Lewis “the definition of a trailblazer. He led a life of service in pursuit of justice.” Lewis received an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Tulane’s 2019 Commencement.
Tulane Joins Consortium to Study Impact of Slavery, Segregation
Looking to the past will help the university move into the future. As part of its commitment to creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive community, Tulane established The History Project, a long-term effort to research and develop a detailed history of the university, with respect to its racial history and founding, including the impacts from slavery and segregation. Author and historian Marcia Walker-mcwilliams, PhD, joined the university in the spring semester and leads the project as executive director. To bolster this effort, Tulane has also joined Universities Studying Slavery, a consortium of more than 90 institutions worldwide.
Advocating for LGTBQ+ Rights
A group of Tulane researchers has formed the LGBTQ+ Research Collective, which seeks to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals through research, advocacy, initiatives, community engagement and collaboration. The group started as a space to share research on LGBTQ+ issues but evolved to include topics such as employment and housing protections that affect the community.
Using Clinical Care to Advance Equity
With an approach that unites patient care with trainee development, Dr. Tina Simpson was appointed as the School of Medicine’s first chief clinical diversity officer. Simpson’s role benefits the school’s community: she leads initiatives that build safe and inclusive learning environments, promote physician workforce diversity and advance equity by addressing healthcare disparities in New Orleans and other areas that serve patients from marginalized communities. She also serves as the Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics.
