Rutgers University Libraries: Libraries and Centers: Diversity Research Center

About the Libraries: Libraries and Centers:
Diversity Research Center

Diversity Research Center
John Cotton Dana Library
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
185 University Avenue
Newark, New Jersey 07102-1814

Director: Dr. Mark Winston

(click on the picture for a slideshow)

"The extraordinary diversity of Rutgers-Newark provides unique opportunities to educate students for the global world and to study the impact of racial, ethnic and religious diversity on our society and its institutions."
-- Steven J. Diner, Former Chancellor, Rutgers University in Newark

Read about the role of the American Council on Education Fellows on the development of the Diversity Research Center.

The Diversity Research Center's mission will include:

Conducting research associated with the relationship between diversity and organizational performance and promoting the dissemination of diversity research.

"The Diversity Research Center at the Dana Library will play an important role in promoting the value of diversity in education, organizational performance, and librarianship. Guided by leaders in diversity research and on a campus where diversity is an integral part of the learning experience, this Diversity Research Center is well-positioned at Rutgers-Newark's Dana Library."
-- Miguel Figueroa, Director of the American Library Association's Office for Diversity

Conducting institutional research and assessment related to academic preparation and student learning on the most diverse doctoral degree-granting university campus in the U.S. (see presentation notes to Deans Council on outcomes assessment research.)

Providing substantive support for research on diversity by faculty across the academic disciplines, including the hosting of a Faculty Professional Development Workshop on Diversity and a workshop on Building the Faculty for the 21st Century.

"This Diversity Research Center is much needed in higher education and what better place to house it than in a library. I can't think of two better co-directors for the Center than Haipeng Li and Mark Winston--two people very committed to diversity in the library profession and in general."
-- ALA President Camila Alire

And, serving as the center for diversity research for the profession that includes more than 120,000 libraries in the U.S.

The Center will also create a dedicated collection of research materials related to diversity; host noted speakers, organizational leaders, and visiting scholars; and disseminate its findings and research through presentations, publications and electronic media. The Center will also establish a faculty fellowship program, to support faculty who conduct diversity research in their disciplines. In March, 2011, Dr. Karen Downing spoke about Why and How Diversity Matters in Libraries and on Campuses and recommended the creation of a Peer Information Counseling Program.

Dr. Karen Downing

Dr. Mark Winston serves as Director of the Center.