Rutgers University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice (Proctor Institute), in collaboration with Princeton University Press (PUP) and Educational Testing Service (ETS), is proud to announce the highly anticipated convening, Revolution U: Dismantling Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring (Revolution U). The two-day event, taking place June 8 and 9, 2023 in the vibrant city of Philadelphia, PA, invites participants to discuss, engage, and transform faculty hiring practices.  

Revolution U’s immersive nature will allow invited guests to engage with notable experts to make systemic change for their own institutions and beyond. Through hands-on, collaborative, and interactive sessions, participants will work towards conceptualizing new and innovative practices for diversifying faculty nationwide. 

“When conceptualizing this convening, which is an outgrowth of my book Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring, I wanted to make sure that we created something with lasting power,” said Marybeth Gasman, Executive Director of the Proctor Institute and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University. “With this highly participatory event, we aim to empower higher education leaders to confront their own biases and begin to think differently about their institutional hiring practices.” 

A distinguishing feature of Revolution U is its highly participatory nature. Participants will actively engage with one another, foster meaningful connections and exchange ideas, insights, and strategies. They will be prompted to challenge their own perceptions and biases to create tangible change in their respective academic environments.  

Through thought-provoking and data-driven sessions, participants will explore topics such as the faculty pipeline, the role of search committees and leadership in hiring, as well as how we define “quality” in faculty hiring. Participants will also conceptualize a call to action for themselves, their institutions, and higher education overall.  

PUP Director Christie Henry notes, “As a scholarly publisher it is our mission to contribute to the ongoing evolution of the higher education ecosystem with the books we publish. Revolution U is an incredibly meaningful moment to experience a book in action, and we are grateful to be a part of this purposeful and pivotal convening.” 

Revolution U represents a bold step towards a more inclusive and diverse academic landscape. By equipping attendees with the knowledge, resources, and networks necessary to effect lasting change, we strive to create a future where faculty hiring practices transcend traditional barriers and embrace the principles of equity and justice. 

The group asks you to “Join us as we live-tweet Revolution U! Follow along on Twitter (@SDPInstitute) with the hashtag #RevU2023 and follow us on Instagram (@proctorinstitute) to see behind the scenes footage from the event. More information about the event – including the lineup of speakers and participants – can be found here.”