Leadership Development

The LDS Institute is comprised of programs aligned with the work of Lucy Diggs Slowe during her tenure as Dean of Women at Howard University from 1922-1937. A recognized higher education trailblazer, Slowe’s visionary initiatives and advocacy challenged dominant notions about the centrality of field of Student Affairs and Student Affairs professionals to the overall collegiate experience.

LDS programs are designed to

1. Examine issues that impact Black student development at HBCUs and beyond.

2. Offer professional development programs that draw upon the expertise of Students Affairs professionals at HBCU and HBCU-ally institutions to identify and illuminate effective practices.

3. Sponsor, conduct, and disseminate research specific to the field of Student Affairs at HBCUs.

4. Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among higher education professionals and institutions.

Fall 2023

The HBCU Literacy for Higher Education Professionals is an online asynchronous course offered on the Howard University Coursera platform. Comprised of five modules, the course explores historical and contemporary themes, structures, and empirical research that illuminates the centrality of HBCUs within the higher education ecosystem. This course intentionally and explicitly draws upon research grounded in asset-based, culturally-affirming worldviews as the lens for inquiry. Upon completion learners, with a passing score on all five End of Module quizzes will earn a HBCU Literacy for Higher Education Professionals certificate. 

Coming Soon