A Message from Deputy Provost Lynn Singer
Fisk University is very different from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).
Fisk University is:
- Small, where we are large;
- Undergraduate-focused, while we are a research university;
- Southern as opposed to northern—making for great opportunities to leave Cleveland in the winter and Fisk in the summer; and
- Historically black, while CWRU leads effort to increase underrepresented minority faculty and students.
These differences make our universities complementary in many ways and allow us both easier access to multicultural perspectives. In addition, Fisk has depth in many areas that we would like to strengthen or develop. For example, they have a great African-American history program. Many students at CWRU wish to study African-American history, but we do not have the depth here to be attractive to those students. By partnering with Fisk, our ethnic studies program could provide those opportunities.
On the other hand, we have great depth in the sciences and engineering, and can offer opportunities in those areas to Fisk students and faculty. Similarly, Fisk has a fantastic art collection with which our art history program can partner. Through such connections, we can enrich our lives and our scholarship, as well as overcome some of the race relations barriers that currently exist in the United States.
–Deputy Provost Lynn Singer, Case Western Reserve University
A Message from Dr. Sheila Peters
I believe that the Case Western Reserve University-Fisk University collaboration provides a framework for building a marvelous relationship between these two great institutions. I am looking forward for both students attending Fisk University and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to share their perspectives as well as grow from the opportunities to learn from others. As a faculty member who conducted a lecture, I was honored to have the opportunity to share my research in the CWRU academy. All were warm and friendly and gave me great hope for the possibilities for this collaboration. In addition to students, I believe that both faculties can benefit from this collaboration and can find new and exciting ways to collaborate on curriculum development, research and service learning.
In 2008, I was challenged as a teacher to participate in the teleconference class with Dr. Thomas Csordas. This medium challenged my presentation and responsibilities as a teacher in the learning process. It was a great opportunity to build a relationship with Dr. Csordas and I was delighted when I visited CWRU so I could recognize the students in the class and they, in turn, recognized me. Both institutions have a responsibility to provide a rich, learning environment to its students. I believe this collaboration provides unlimited opportunities for faculty, staff and students from both universities to learn and grow in this global society.–Dr. Sheila Peters, Associate Professor of Psychology, Fisk University.