In 2019, Rutgers University–New Brunswick celebrated the commemorative 50th anniversary of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center’s official opening. The anniversary celebration event provided a meaningful opportunity for the Rutgers University–New Brunswick campus community to use the milestone of turning 50 to reflect on the Center’s outstanding commitment to its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The event’s goal was to raise awareness of the centers’ commitment to celebrating and honoring Black diasporic experiences and identities at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. The keynote address by award-winning scholar and author Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D., inspired reflection that fuels the University’s commitment to help us carry our work as cultural centers forward into the next 50 years.
View the Anniversary Celebration Event & Hear from our Keynote
Hear from Rutgers students about the impact of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center on their experience
Keynote Speaker: Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D.
Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D. is one of the most highly respected, accomplished, and influential scholars in the field of higher education. Professor Patton Davis is best known for her important cross-cutting scholarship on African Americans in higher education, critical race theory, campus diversity initiatives on college campuses, girls and women of color in educational and social contexts, and college student development and graduate preparation.
She is author of over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and other academic publications including The Journal of Higher Education, Teachers College Record, Journal of College Student Development, Urban Education, and International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. Her research has been cited in nearly 5,000 published studies and funded by grants from the Spencer Foundation, Lumina Foundation, American Psychological Foundation and an array of other entities.
Lori has received many national awards for her scholarly contributions. She is a frequently sought-after expert on a wide range of education topics. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Huffington Post, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and dozens of other media outlets have quoted Lori and featured her research. She has also advised university presidents and other senior administrators, philanthropic foundation executives, culture center directors, and educators in urban K-12 schools.
