UC Berkeley welcomed HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) scholars from across multiple campus programs for a community meet-and-greet with Chancellor leadership, faculty, staff, and campus partners. The gathering brought together students participating in research, mentorship, academic enrichment, and graduate preparation experiences throughout Berkeley’s summer programs.
The event highlighted UC Berkeley’s growing commitment to strengthening partnerships with HBCUs and creating a more connected experience for students visiting campus. Scholars from across disciplines came together to build community, learn about campus resources, and connect with one another as part of the broader Berkeley community.
The meet-and-greet represents the continued development of the HBCU Campus-Wide Engagement Plan, an initiative led by the African American Thriving Initiative (AATI) to map, align, and strengthen the many HBCU partnerships and programs taking place across UC Berkeley.
“Creating pathways for HBCU students to access research opportunities, graduate education, and community at Berkeley requires collaboration across campus,” said Takiyah Jackson, Director of the African American Thriving Initiatives. “This work is about ensuring that students experience Berkeley not only as a destination for academic excellence, but as a place where they are welcomed, supported, and connected.”
What began as a collaboration between AATI and the HBCU Environmental Scholars for Change program has expanded into a broader campus effort connecting summer programs with HBCU partnerships. Through collaboration with campus departments and the Graduate Division’s Office for Graduate Diversity, AATI is working to create more opportunities for students to learn about graduate pathways, engage with Berkeley resources, and develop lasting connections with the university.
Several of UC Berkeley's HBCU summer programs have been made possible through competitive awards from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) HBCU Initiative, which supports research experiences, academic partnerships, and pathways to graduate education for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Among Berkeley's current awardees are the HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars for Change program, which received a three-year UC-HBCU Initiative grant in 2024; the CREEO-HBCU Program, which received a three-year award in 2025; and the Rising Stars Program, which has participated in the UC-HBCU Initiative through a multi-campus collaboration.
The 2026 HBCU summer programs include:
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HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars for Change: Hosted by the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM), this two-month mentored research intensive provides research opportunities in intersecting environmental fields, such as agri-food systems, biodiversity, climate, and water, all with a throughline of justice. Co-directed by Drs. Timothy Bowles, Rosalie Zdzienicka Fanshel, and Damian O. Elias, 25 undergraduate students from Tuskegee University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College have participated since 2022, with seven on campus this summer. Program alum Joy Rutledge (Spelman ‘25) will begin the ESPM doctorate in fall 2026.
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CREEO-HBCU Program: Hosted by the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity (CREEO) in the Berkeley School of Education, this transformative seven-week summer program provides six students from Morehouse College and Talladega College with immersive research opportunities, faculty mentorship, community building, and preparation for doctoral pathways in education and the social sciences. Led by Drs. Tolani Britton and Travis Bristol and managed by Melika Jalili, the program welcomed its inaugural cohort in Summer 2026, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership dedicated to expanding opportunities and strengthening pathways to graduate education. CREEO is also conducting a research study examining participants' experiences, engagement, and sense-making throughout the program, with plans to disseminate the findings.
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Rising Stars Program: Hosted by the Innovative Genomics Institute, the Rising Stars Program provides undergraduate research opportunities in genomics. UC Berkeley’s participating HBCU scholars are part of a broader UC effort connecting students from institutions including Hampton University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University across UC campuses.
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Molecular and Cell Biology Program: Hosted by the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, this program welcomes three Howard University students for summer research across MCB labs. Led by Dr. Meng-meng Fu and coordinated by Aubrey Green, the program is supported by faculty mentors Drs. Laurent Coscoy and Peter Sudmant. The program supports undergraduate research engagement and continued partnership with Howard University.
Beyond individual programs, AATI is working with campus partners to create shared experiences that support belonging and connection among HBCU summer scholars. These collective engagements include an orientation hosted by the AATI team, including the African American Student Development Office, the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center, and AATI, a Black History at Cal campus tour, and a community welcome event at the Inclusive Excellence Hub. Summer scholars also take part in graduate school workshops offered by the Office for Graduate Diversity.
AATI’s HBCU engagement strategy builds on existing partnerships, including the HBCU Domestic Exchange Program, led by Dr. Emerald Green, which provides opportunities for UC Berkeley students to study at Spelman College and Morehouse College for a semester while welcoming students from those institutions to Berkeley.
By bringing together HBCU programs across campus, UC Berkeley is building a stronger ecosystem of support, one that expands research opportunities, strengthens graduate pathways, and advances the university’s commitment to thriving.
Related
- From HBCUs to the Bay, mentoring the next generation of scientists via UC Berkeley News
- HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars visit Kearney REC via UC Ag and Natural Resource
