Why aren’t college faculties more racially diverse? The question is gaining increased attention at higher education institutions around the country. And it’s a question that Marybeth Gasman, Judy & Howard Berkowitz Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is boldly tackling in her research and instruction.

Gasman, one of the leading scholars on historically black colleges and universities, will share her perspective on diversifying faculty on Monday, Oct. 30, at a UD ADVANCE lecture titled, “Our Nation’s Professoriate, Diversity, & Racism: The Five Truths We Don’t Want to Confront.” The event, co-sponsored by the Center for the Study of Diversity and the Provost’s Office, will be held at 4 p.m. in room 140 in Smith Hall.

“Marybeth Gasman is refreshingly honest about diversity in higher education and an impressive public speaker,” said Shawna Vican, director of the UD ADVANCE Institute. “I encourage any faculty and staff who care about improving the climate at UD to attend this timely lecture.”

Gasman is an expert in the history of American higher education, minority serving institutions (MSIs), racism and diversity, fundraising and philanthropy, and higher education leadership. She is the founding director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions, which works to amplify the contributions, strengthen, and support MSIs and those scholars interested in them.

Gasman is the author or editor of 23 books, including Educating a Diverse Nation, Envisioning Black Colleges, and Academics Going Public. She has written more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, scholarly essays, and book chapters, as well as 350 opinion articles for the nation’s newspapers and magazines.