Two School of Social Work faculty—Assistant Professor Jane Lee and Assistant Teaching Professor Justin Lerner—are the inaugural recipients of the Roffman Term Faculty Fellowships for Antiracism, announced this month.
The new fellowship program, created in collaboration with professor emeritus Roger Roffman, enables these scholars to carry out personal and professional activities that will strengthen their own knowledge and understanding about racism and social justice. The program was designed to advance the School’s dedication to education, research and service in support of anti-racist learning and collective action. At the end of the fellowship year, the recipients will share their experiences and proposals to advance antiracism and social justice throughout the School.
“We are indebted to Roger Roffman for his support of our School and this fellowship,” said Ballmer Dean in Social Work Eddie Uehara and Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kalei Kanuha in a joint communication to the School community. “Its creation reflects our nation’s heightened concerns around systemic and historic racism, including the social and economic oppression of Black people, Indigenous people and people of color. Roger’s generous gift will allow our faculty fellows the unique opportunity to continue and grow the School’s longstanding commitment to end structural racism.”
Jane Lee’s research focuses on reducing health disparities among racial/ethnic and immigrant populations, with an emphasis on community collaboration. For her fellowship, she will engage and reflect upon a compendium of sources on antiracism; complete digital stories from University faculty about their antiracist strategies in teaching, research and service; and contribute to diversity and equity work with a community non-profit.
Justin Lerner teaches courses on social justice and equity, and is in a social justice group therapy practice providing anti-oppressive counseling to create healing and resilience. During his fellowship year, he will examine critical texts on antiracism, engage with a core group of white colleagues to discuss the embodiment of whiteness and racism, and complete his work on antiracist anti-oppressive practices in the classroom.
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School announces new antiracism fellowship program with support from Professor Emeritus Roger Roffman — School of Social Work News & Events