Research

• Five (5) of six (6) of our founders attended an HBCU as either an undergraduate or graduate student (DBESP, 2021).

• HBCU students and faculty reported knowing little about school psychology as well as having significantly fewer resources of information about the profession (Graves & Wright, 2009). 

• HBCU students offer intersectional insights that can further promote equity and inclusivity in school psychology.

• There are 107 HBCUs in 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bowie State University and Howard University are the only two HBCUs that offer school psychology programs.

• HBCUs enroll 11% of Black students in the United States, yet make up 3% of colleges and universities. Additionally, they produce about 20% of all Black student graduates (UNCF, n.d.). 

• In 2020, the percentage of Black school psychologists was only 4%. HBCU recruitment could expose the field to a greater number of Black students.

• Several scholars highlighted the importance of improving recruitment efforts at HBCUs to aid in diversifying the field (e.g., Beeks & Graves, 2017; Graves & Wright, 2009; Proctor & Truscott, 2013).