As I mentioned briefly in my note two weeks ago, at its most recent meeting the Board of Regents approved our Ethnic Studies program to become a department. This move recognizes the long history of Ethnic Studies’ contribution to the campus and our student body. I am proud to be dean in a college that is putting the important teaching and research done in Ethnic Studies at the fore.
Ethnic Studies was established as a program within CLAS in the early seventies. From 1991 to 2002, the program’s direction was under the generous and steady hand of the incomparable Cecil Glenn. Cecil handed the reins over to Donna Martinez, who served as the program’s first dedicated full-time director from 2002 to 2017. Under her leadership, the interdisciplinary minor grew quickly – increasing from 2 in the fall of 2002 to 89 in the fall of 2012. The program’s Bachelor of Arts degree proposal received Regent approval in November 2012. Over the past decade, the program has grown in both majors and rostered faculty members.
It took many dedicated people many, many years to accomplish this milestone. In addition to Cecil and Donna, the recent success of Ethnic Studies has been due to the tireless effort of Chair Faye Caronan. While running the department, Faye also spent the past year serving as a Faculty Fellow to the chancellor and leadership, advising them on issues concerning underrepresented and diverse students, faculty, and staff. Her herculean efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. I’d like to also recognize another recent retiree, Paula Espinoza, who was also instrumental in the formation and success of ethnic studies at CU Denver. And I would be terribly remiss not to also acknowledge the long-time selfless service of Dennis Green. The heart and soul of every department is its faculty and staff, and so I’d like to thank all of those who’ve taught and administered Ethnic Studies, making it the success it is today.
Ethnic Studies is currently the only academic unit on campus whose faculty is majority BIPoC and whose curriculum centers the histories and experiences of BIPoC in the United States. Moving forward I’m excited to see how our Ethnic Studies department will take a lead in helping the university achieve its goal to become the nation’s first equity serving institution. So please join me in celebrating the tireless work of the faculty, staff, and students in the Ethnic Studies department to make our campus and our world better.
