NEC is pleased to announce the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who comprise the newly formed Cultural Equity and Belonging (CEB) Advisory Council, which will support the work of incoming Director of CEB Monique Van Willingh and the newly formed Center for Cultural Equity and Belonging.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Monique Van Willingh as NEC's Director of Cultural Equity and Belonging. A musician, educator, and advocate for social justice, Monique brings great passion, deep experience, and a collaborative spirit to this position.
In today's recap, four distinguished Black alumni share their vision of what NEC looks and feels like when it has lived up to its commitment of cultural equity and belonging. Our panelists are Carmen Johnson-Pájaro ’18 MM Violin Performance, deVon Russell Gray ’01 Composition, Darynn Dean ’18 Jazz Studies, and John Alexander Garner ’06 Vocal Performance.
Cheryl Susheel Bibbs ’70 MM discusses the social and political turmoil that led to the cancelation of the 1970 graduation ceremony, and shares her ideas and suggestions in support of breaking down "otherness" and increasing inclusion and diversity at NEC.
In today's recap, we revisit the third NEC Perspectives Forum, in which Stanford Thompson sat down for a conversation with alumnus Dr. Darryl Harper '08 DMA, examining the history of NEC in the larger context of Black Studies and Jazz Studies programs across the United States.
In today's recap, we examine the beginnings of Jazz Studies at NEC through conversation with founding chair Carl Atkins, current chair Ken Schaphorst, and alumna Susan Calkins ’83 MM, whose doctoral dissertation and book focuses on the history of Gunther Schuller and jazz at NEC.
The NEC Perspectives Forums, launched this summer, have provided an opportunity for students, alumni, and faculty to discuss how the past, present, and future of an NEC where everyone feels that they belong. The first set of forums focused on the Black experience at NEC, and lays the groundwork for future forums discussing a wide array of opportunities to create equity and belonging.
