In a time of increasing opposition to race-focused education and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the City University of New York (CUNY)’s Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies (BRES) graduate programs are pushing back against these forces. As Associate Professor Van Tran, a co-director of the BRES Collaboration Hub, shared, “The CUNY BRES graduate programs expand research, education, and training capacity on race, ethnicity, and intergroup relations to reshape and drive the discourse of race relations and racial justice in the 21st century” At a time when legislation and public discourse seek to diminish the scope of race-related education, CUNY’s BRES programs assert a crucial message: a genuine, honest understanding of race, ethnicity, and social justice is fundamental to any rigorous educational mission.
These threats to DEI and race studies are not isolated. Colleges and universities across the United States face legislative actions and funding threats designed to suppress fields that examine systemic inequities. This trend has been especially present in states such as Florida and Texas, where new laws aim to restrict discussions on race, gender, and social justice. Institutionalizing BRES within CUNY anchors race studies as an essential, long-lasting aspect of graduate education and positions CUNY as a leader.
CUNY’s BRES initiative responds to a long-standing gap within traditional academic disciplines, which have frequently neglected the experiences and contributions of racially and ethnically diverse communities. Tran emphasizes that CUNY’s vision is to make BRES not just an add-on but a core part of the disciplinary training at CUNY. With its “discipline-plus” model, the program allows students to integrate BRES within fields such as sociology, history, and philosophy, bringing new perspectives to these traditional areas of study. This model ensures that BRES scholars not only strengthen the academic fabric of these disciplines but also emerge equipped for careers, whether within or outside of academia.
The Mellon Foundation’s support has been instrumental to this vision. CUNY’s partnership with Mellon began in 2020 with a $10 million gift. Tran explains, “In the summer of 2020, CUNY received a historic gift of $10 million from the Mellon Foundation to drive change across 25 colleges and schools and develop and expand efforts to advance social and racial justice.” This investment bolstered the development of BRES programs at CUNY, uniting resources to promote racial justice education across the system. CUNY received an additional $5 million from Mellon in 2024, providing $2.3 million to support incoming Ph.D. students and $2.7 million for hiring new faculty. Tran underscored the importance of this funding, noting that it “empowers us to recruit faculty and students” who are dedicated to BRES, building the next generation of scholars and advocates.
The impact of BRES is designed to resonate beyond academia. Tran envisions BRES graduates as “the next generation of academic leaders whose scholarship will advance our multifaceted understanding of racial equity and inclusion.” This mission aligns with CUNY’s broader goal: “At the CUNY Graduate Center, we believe that knowledge is a public good.”
Navigating these waters is not easy for many universities. Growing legislative scrutiny around DEI programs has created a climate where supporting race studies can lead to political and financial pushback. However, for Tran and his colleagues, the commitment to protect and promote ethnic studies in higher education remains unwavering. “The suppression of race and ethnic studies is not new,” Tran points out. “Protecting and promoting ethnic studies is at the core of higher education and the values that we hold dear.”
CUNY’s BRES program, supported by Mellon’s substantial investment, demonstrates that race and ethnic studies are not an option but a necessary discipline that equips students to engage meaningfully in our society’s most pressing conversations on equity and justice. By institutionalizing BRES, CUNY and its partners affirm the value of race studies, setting an example for institutions across the country on how to defend and grow these vital programs.