Wilmette Institute formalizes relationship with historically Black university

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the Wilmette Institute have formalized a partnership aimed at advancing social transformation through education. A ceremony at NCCU on October 24 marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the start of a formal five-year collaboration with the historically Black university.

Located in Durham, NCCU is recognized as the nation’s first public liberal arts institution for Black students. Their partnership with the Wilmette Institute, which draws upon the principles of the Bahá’í Faith, reflects a commitment to fostering educational initiatives that promote social change and community engagement.

At the ceremony, NCCU Chancellor, Karrie G. Dixon, and the Wilmette Institute’s Associate Director, Chitra Golestani, signed the MOU. Dixon then outlined for the assembled administrators, faculty and students, the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. The partnership promises to not only elevate and enhance the university’s academic offerings, but also to make a significant impact on the NCCU community. 

The partnership reflects the Bahá’í understanding of social transformation, which views education as essential to building a just, united global society. For Bahá’ís, social transformation involves the spiritual and material advancement of communities through fostering unity, eliminating prejudices, and developing capacities for service. 

“This is such a unique partnership that represents a significant step towards our shared commitment to enhancing student success,” Dixon said during the ceremony. “It is a testament to our commitment to service and community development.”  

In subsequent remarks, NCCU Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Ontario Wooden, added, “When you can get faculty and departments to collaborate with others around social issues, it is exciting times.” 

The partnership between the two institutions has been developing over the past two and a half years and is fostered by Harvey McMurray, a longstanding Bahá’í and professor in NCCU’s Department of Criminal Justice. McMurray’s application of principles such as collaboration, universal participation and consultation, was instrumental in shaping the partnership’s framework. 

At the signing ceremony, McMurray spoke of the sequence of events that led to NCCU students’ pre-pandemic engagement with the junior youth spiritual empowerment program as well as the growing collaboration with the Wilmette Institute on multiple educational initiatives. These initiatives include:

• Collaboration with Stephanie Howard, Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance, on a production of The Bus Stop, a play by Najee Brown, a Bahá’í from Massachusetts. 
• Post-performance discussions led by Penny Carroll of the Department of Social Work, exploring the impact of mass incarceration on African American communities.
• A summer pilot guest lecture series with the Wilmette Institute faculty, headed by Emmanuel Oritsejafor, NCCU Chair of the Department of Political Science
• A university-wide public lecture organized by faculty from multiple disciplines.
• A panel presentation by NCCU faculty at the 2024 Association of Bahá’í Studies conference in Atlanta. 

NCCU and the Wilmette Institute will continue to explore how coursework, collaborative inquiry and community engagement can contribute to broader conversations on social transformation and educational innovation.

MOU News on the WI website

MOU announcement on NCCU’s website