For over two decades, the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity has been a key player in interdisciplinary scholarship, institutional collaborations, and community involvement. Exciting changes are underway as it transitions to the Phillip J. Bowman Center for Scholarship to Practice. This new name pays tribute to Dr. Phillip J. Bowman, professor emeritus and founding director, who is renowned for his work on higher education, racial diversity, and social justice. His research emphasizes the transformative power of scholarship in understanding and improving institutions and social systems.
Continuing as the Bowman Center, the commitment to scholarly inquiry and public interest in higher education remains strong.
An ecosystem of scholarship and engagement
The Bowman Center spearheads initiatives that promote research, support scholars, and bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Programs are designed to foster intergenerational communities of scholars, practitioners, and leaders, focusing on contemporary social issues. The center hosts faculty research networks, fellowships, and student research support, creating a dynamic ecosystem where scholarship informs institutional practices.
Projects like the Inclusive History Project analyze the university’s record of inclusion and exclusion, while initiatives like CASCaDE equip institutional change agents with research-backed tools. The CASCaDE toolkit provides practical guidance for advancing equity in higher education. Bowman Center Scholars, a global network, supports diversity scholars’ professional success.
Engaging faculty and students
Faculty collaboration is integral to the center’s mission. Faculty across disciplines participate in research initiatives, mentoring, and broader discussions. Students also play a crucial role, engaging in faculty-led research projects or serving as graduate fellows and interns. The Graduate Anti-Racism Research Grant, currently accepting applications through March 13, supports graduate research in anti-racism scholarship, providing students with opportunities to study and shape systems.
Looking forward
The transition to the Phillip J. Bowman Center for Scholarship to Practice represents both continuity and a renewed focus. In line with the university’s Life-Changing Education initiative, the center enhances an educational environment that fosters intellectual growth and expands access to scholarly opportunities. Through fellowships, research grants, and institutional partnerships, the center cultivates spaces for rigorous inquiry and collaboration, preparing scholars to address complex social challenges and connect research to lasting public impact.
The mission remains to convene scholars, develop ideas, and translate knowledge into action.
—
Read More Michigan News
