Inclusive Excellence Recruitment Initiative – Black Scholars

Black and African Diaspora Studies

Multiple Faculty Positions Now Open

A diverse population of Black students attend Dalhousie, including those from African Nova Scotian, Black/African Canadian, and international communities. Dalhousie also has an active Black Faculty and Staff Caucus, which promotes a sense a community and connection among Black faculty, staff, and students.

The university’s location in a province with more than 50 African Nova Scotian communities also offers unique opportunities for enriched academic collaboration and connections between campus and community. Dalhousie acknowledges African Nova Scotians as a distinct people who have shaped the province and the university for centuries. In 2018, Dalhousie launched the African Nova Scotian Strategy [PDF - 1Mb], which was then further updated in 2021 through the work of the Strategy’s working group, including the Director of African Nova Scotian Community Engagement. The Strategy is aimed at ensuring sustainable initiatives that support African Nova Scotian students, staff, and faculty members.

As a signatory of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion, Dalhousie has committed to move from rhetoric to meaningful concrete action. This initiative speaks specifically to the Charter’s recommendation 2.1.2.1 to “recruit faculty, wherever feasible in cluster/cohort hires across academic disciplines.” Dalhousie has also committed to taking decisive action and employing creative approaches in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black scholars in our Strategic Plan’s second pillar, Inclusive Excellence.

These opportunities are part of a cluster hiring initiative supported by the Dalhousie Diversity Faculty Award (DDFA) program. In keeping with the principles of employment equity, the DDFA program aims to correct historic underrepresentation. This initiative will support inclusive excellence by appointing five Black scholars to the university across multiple Faculties. Cluster hires promote interdisciplinary collaboration, while creating communities of support for scholars from underrepresented groups. These new scholars will find opportunities for scholarly contributions, collaboration, and support as Fellows of the newly established Black Studies Research Institute and will contribute to our emerging interdisciplinary program in Black and African Diaspora Studies (BAFD).

View current opportunites

Dalhousie has a strong history of introducing ground-breaking initiatives that have created many opportunities for Black students, faculty and staff.

• Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initiative
• Promoting Leadership in Health for African Nova Scotians
• Transition year Program (TYP)
• Imhotep’s Legacy Academy
• James R. Johnston (JRJ) Chair in Black Canadian Studies
• Black Studies Research Institute (BSRI)
• Black Faculty and Staff Caucus
• Lord Dalhousie Report
• Sankofa Scholarships
• African Nova Scotian Strategy [PDF - 1Mb]