For the month of February, we're going to shine a spotlight on individuals who are moving Black History forward through their research. This mix of students and faculty represent a variety of disciplines across the University, and their scope ranges from the pulpit to nanotechnology. These individuals stand on the shoulders of the many trailblazers before them, including E. Franklin Frazier, Toni Morrison, and Pauli Murray, and like their predecessors, their research will inspire many generations to come.
 

Brandon Brown is a Doctoral Student in the School of Education studying Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies. His dissertation research is on Howard University's place-building strategies in three historically Black DC neighborhoods: Shaw, LeDroit Park, and Pleasant Plains as an HBCU and anchor institution. However, his broader research agenda seeks to highlight the correlation between the health and viability of HBCUs, and the surrounding community, particularly Black neighborhoods. This research is important to Black Studies because it will center Black people and institutions in research that often excludes them. Brandon is hopeful that work will create stronger and more intentional bonds between Black higher education institutions and Black communities. 

 #WeAreBlackHistory