BREAKING GROUND
FOR THE FUTURE
The Mary McLeod Bethune Institute for the Study of Women and Girls
The Mary McLeod Bethune Institute for the Study of Women and Girls at Bethune-Cookman University is a specialized campus unit committed to addressing the unique needs of women and girls in the American experience and beyond. Its primary goals include recognizing challenges to gender equity and developing research and programmatic initiatives that redress the pervasive hurdles women and girls commonly encounter on their paths to success.
Next to God we are indebted to women, first for life itself, and
then for making it worth living.
DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE
MEET THE DIRECTOR
Crystal A. deGregory, Ph.D., a distinguished historian and storyteller, serves as an associate professor of history and the founding director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute for the Study of Women and Girls at Bethune-Cookman University. Renowned for her collaborative advocacy and entrepreneurial leadership, she is also the founder and director of two digital storytelling projects, HBCUstory and Dorian and Beyond. Dr. deGregory is widely acknowledged for her expertise in race, women, history, and HBCUs, with significant contributions to major publications and engagements with audiences across the United States. A Phi Beta Kappa alumna of Fisk University, she holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University and an M.Ed from Tennessee State University. Recently inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars, her first book, “Magic and Mortal” (Juju Collective, 2022), serves as an introduction to her poetic voice. Dr. deGregory's forthcoming book, "The Greatest Good: Nashville’s Black Colleges, Their Students, and the Fight for Freedom, Justice, and Equality," is under contract with Vanderbilt University Press.
FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMING
EDUCATE
Mentoring Programs and Support for Research
Year-round initiatives foster mentorship between senior and junior women in academia, encouraging intergenerational exchanges on their respective challenges, triumphs, and strategies to address both sexist practices and racist ideologies within and beyond their campuses. This initiative actively supports research efforts dedicated to understanding the conditions, concerns, and needs of Black women and girls through annual gatherings, publications, and faculty and student research awards. Moreover, it offers e-lectures covering a spectrum of topics related to both anti-racism and anti-sexism.
EMPOWER
Black Women Campus Leadership Institute
A tailored and comprehensive semester-long initiative designed for women college students at HBCUs who aspire to participate in politics within their campus and community. This program provides extensive training in key skills, encompassing effective public speaking and communication, adept media and messaging techniques, strategic networking, campaign planning, proficient field operations, and ethical considerations.
EXPAND
Black Women's Studies Courses and Programs
As of 2015, only Spelman College and Bennett College, the nation’s only HBCU women’s colleges, offered majors in women’s studies. Our programming supports HBCU professors as they seek ways to integrate gender-related topics into the curriculum. This support remains in place until various constraints—financial, cultural, and administrative—can be addressed. Overcoming these challenges is essential to encouraging HBCU institutions to formally develop courses and programs centered around Black women.
EFFECT SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Tenure, Promotion, and Administrative Representation Among Women
The initiative aims to promote gender equity in academia by increasing the number of tenured and promoted women faculty and enhancing their representation in administrative roles. It focuses on junior faculty development through targeted support in research, publishing, and presenting opportunities. The overarching goal is to create a culture of mentorship and professional growth, fostering an inclusive academic environment that empowers women to thrive in their careers. The initiative seeks not only numerical advancements but also meaningful representation in leadership positions, aspiring to contribute to a more equitable and diverse future for women in higher education.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
OUR APPROACH
A Resource for Intentional Research, Programming, and Support
The Bethune Institute for the Study of Women and Girls, embodying the visionary legacy of Bethune-Cookman University's founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, serves as an artfully-crafted resource for intentional research, programming, and support for issues paramount to the survival and success of women and girls.
Staying true to the forward-thinking spirit of our namesake, at our core is a commitment to gender equity topics such as women's leadership, food and housing security, body image, physical and sexual health and safety, mental health and emotional wellness, maternal health, and healthy relationships.
The true worth of a race must be measured by the character of its womanhood.
DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE
Key National Objectives
A FIVE-YEAR PLAN
+150
WOMEN IN CAMPUS LEADERSHIP
+100
TENURED AND PROMOTED FACULTY
+50
WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAMS
SUSTAINABILITY
Bethune-Cookman University steadfastly supports the inaugural activities of the center, providing essential positions and seamlessly integrating outcomes into the university's permanent infrastructure and culture. This unwavering commitment empowers the center to actively engage with key stakeholders, fostering meaningful connections both on campus and beyond. The institute's outreach extends to higher education, government, and private industry, creating a collaborative ecosystem that amplifies its influence and establishes mechanisms for tracking, measuring, and reporting program effectiveness. Moving forward, the Bethune Institute will leverage its strategic positioning, clear communication of its mission, and a broader programming platform to build lasting relationships and generate sustained interest in ongoing work and the broader mission of Bethune-Cookman University.
Community Partners
HEALTHCARE
SOCIAL SERVICES
EDUCATION
ADVOCACY GROUPS