In June, the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences launched its Juneteenth Scholars Program in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. The program supports faculty members in early stages of their careers who are involved in research topics such as emancipatory movements, structures of oppression, institutional silences about violence, the courage of activists, and the need for systemic structural change, in the United States and globally.

The following faculty comprise the inaugural class of Juneteenth Scholars: Amaryah Armstrong, Religion and Culture; Andrea Baldwin, Sociology; Brandy Faulkner, Gloria D. Smith Professor of Black Studies in the Department of Political Science; Lucien Holness, History; Allan Lumba, History; Desirée Poets, Political Science and ASPECT Core Faculty; and Edward Polanco, History.

The Each faculty member received funding for research conducted between July 1 and August 10, 2020, as well as support for an undergraduate researcher, who can continue to work on the research through the fall semester.