Xavier University of Louisiana has announced the formation of the Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit, an intellectual and physical convening place for research, teaching, community engagement, and debate on issues related to race-based inequities, social identity production, and power relations.

The mission of the Center, to be housed on the University campus, will be to engage in, support, and promote innovative thinking in a multiplicity of contexts and across disciplines regarding race, class, systemic inequities, and a faith that does justice toward a better understanding of issues impacting modern societies and vexing the human spirit.

“We are pleased to announce the creation of The Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit which will serve as an anchor, a magnet, and a beacon reflecting and furthering our calling, as a Historically Black and Catholic university, to help create a more just and humane society,” said Xavier University President Dr. Reynold Verret. “We envision that it will become a cornerstone for individuals and groups seeking to elaborate new theories and verify others by studying and advocating and beyond, engaging in empirically verifiable social change work.”

Verret also announced that the Dr. David W. Robinson-Morris, who holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research from LSU, will serve as director of the Center. Robinson-Morris will concurrently continue to serve as Xavier’s Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Education and Counseling.

“The Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit at Xavier will be a vibrant and critical research, teaching, and public engagement space,” said Robinson-Morris. “Through it we will explore issues in society that are embedded in our intellectual programs and across academic disciplines such as political, social, and systemic inequities in public health, crime and social justice, bioethics, Black Catholic Studies, the arts, African and African-American Diaspora Studies, urban policies, education policy studies, socially responsible entrepreneurship, and community health.”

“At this moment in our nation's history, the Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit at Xavier is a vital catalyst and conduit of critical dialogue, research, policy advocacy, and community convening. We seek to be an agent of social change aimed at raising awareness and assisting in solving systemic injustices, inequities, and issues that vex the human spirit," he added. "As the only historically Black and Catholic institution of higher learning in the country, we are aptly poised to address the issues of the day through the lens of a faith tradition that seeks to do justice. Justice is how love shows itself in the public sphere." 

In keeping with the mission of Xavier, the Center will organize conferences, seminars, lectures, and community assemblies that bring together area experts, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and the community with diverse interest and backgrounds.