UD formalizes academic partnership with Spelman College

From left, UD Provost Dan Rich; James Jones, professor of psychology and director of the Black American Studies Program at UD; and Spelman College Provost Myra Burnett

9:50 a.m., Sept. 12, 2005--The University of Delaware/Spelman College Partnership Committee has agreed to create a joint faculty institute to better utilize the Paul R. Jones Collection of African American Art at UD as an educational resource, create a joint summer scholarship program for art, art history and art conservation and host an undergraduate summer leadership conference for Spelman and UD students.

“It was most extraordinarily successful,” UD Provost Dan Rich said after the committee’s meeting Sept. 9 at Spelman College in Atlanta. “We’ve exceeded all the expectations that we had regarding new initiatives to extend the partnership between the two institutions. We’ve built strong bonds between faculty and University leaders that will benefit students and faculty at both institutions.”

The Partnership Committee was formed in 2001 to help create educational opportunities for students and faculty from both institutions through collaborative efforts and programs, the partnership growing from the gift by businessman Paul R. Jones of Atlanta of his extensive collection of African American art to the University of Delaware.

The summer scholarship program initially will focus on art, art history, art conservation and Black American Studies and will utilize art collections and faculty expertise from both institutions, Rich said.

“It’s really exciting,” Debra Hess Norris, UD Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts, chairperson of the Department of Art Conservation and a member of the Partnership Committee, said. “There’s true momentum forward with practical, realistic plans for the next academic year.”

Norris said the partnership will give Spelman students access to UD’s art conservation program and enable them to consider careers in that field.

Other areas of possible collaboration include:

Student exchanges, internships and summer scholars programs;
Faculty exchanges and visiting lectureships;
Collaborative institutes and programs for faculty and students on subjects of mutual interest;
Expanded and coordinated undergraduate and graduate study opportunities, including connected degree programs;
Facilitated use of libraries, collections and facilities for participating students and faculty;
Programs to support faculty and student research;
Programs to enrich service-learning and study abroad; and
Jointly sponsored exhibits and cultural programs.

From left, Andrea Barnwell, director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and Debra Hess Norris, Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts and chairperson of the Department of Art Conservation at UD, and in the background, Thomas M. DiLorenzo, chairperson of UD's Department of Psychology

“The partnership will be an advantage for both Spelman and the University of Delaware,” Spelman College Provost Myra Burnett said. “We are satisfying our mutual interests and creating more opportunities for intellectual pursuits and development.”

Burnett said activity that promotes undergraduate research strengthens the academic experience. The collaboration with UD has the makings of becoming most successful, thanks to the commitment by the UD team and initiatives that are ready for implementation, she said.

“It’s a new era in collaboration in higher education,” Jones said after the meeting. “The enthusiasm and excitement of both teams signals the success that could well serve as a model across the country. It’s complete satisfaction to see a long-time dream become a reality.”

The second Partnership Committee meeting is scheduled to coincide with the formation of the faculty institute in June 2006, Rich said.

Members of the Partnership Committee from Spelman College are

Andrea Barnwell, director, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art;
Jean Billingslea-Brown, associate professor of English;
Myra Burnett, provost;
Gloria Wade-Gayles, Endowed Eminent Scholar Chair;
Cornelia Gillyard, associate professor of chemistry;
Robert Hamilton, computer graphics art laboratory assistant;
Akua McDaniel, associate professor of art and chair of Partnership Committee;
Desiree Pedescleaux, dean of undergraduate studies;
Olivia Scriven, special adviser to sponsored programs;
Jane Smith, executive director, Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement;
Taronda Spencer, Spelman archivist/historian;
Anne Warner, associate professor of English; and
Daryl White, professor and chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Members of the Partnership Committee from the University of Delaware, in addition to Norris and Rich, who chairs the committee, are:

Amalia Amaki, UD/Spelman Liaison and curator, Paul R. Jones Collection;
Thomas Apple, dean, College of Arts and Sciences;
Timothy K. Barnekov, dean, College of Human Services, Education, and Public Policy;
Thomas M. DiLorenzo, chair, Department of Psychology;
Terry M. Whittaker, assistant provost for student success and diversity;
James M. Jones, professor of psychology and director of the Black American Studies Program; and
Carole C. Marks, professor of sociology.

Article by Martin Mbugua
Photos by Wilford Harewood for Spelman College

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