Carnegie Mellon University
February 01, 2022

Celebrating Black History Month

A message from the Dean's Office.

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time for us to honor the contributions and legacies of Black Americans throughout history. 

I encourage everyone in our community to take time to celebrate through learning, open conversation, and more. If we all participate in the educational opportunities outlined in this email, we will grow, together, to better appreciate the rich culture and contributions of the Black Americans who came before us, and of those who are currently shaping our present and future for the better.

Ways to Be Involved and Celebrate Black History Month

  • Throughout the month, we will be sharing stories of our Black student leaders and alumni on the Tepper School website and on our social media channels. I encourage all members of our community to read and share these stories to uplift the contributions and amplify the voices of our colleagues and peers.
  • The Tepper Together website has a list of resources for anyone who is interested in further education — including books to read, movies to watch, and websites to visit — to better understand the importance of Black history.
  • Spend time perusing the Black History Month Exhibit at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for virtual programming and literature recommendations.
  • Carnegie Mellon is hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration throughout 2022. Several keynote speakers are featured throughout the month of February; register early to attend!
  • The Tepper Together website has a list of Pittsburgh organizations and locally-owned Black businesses to support in February (and throughout the year).

As we celebrate Black History Month, we also acknowledge the gap between our current state and where we aspire to be with respect to diversity, particularly with regard to increasing the gender and racial representation of our students, staff, and faculty. We will continue to work toward our DE&I commitments.

If you have questions or concerns, I welcome your input. Additionally, if you have recommendations to be included on the Tepper Together resource website, please email teppertogether@cmu.edu at any time.

To achieve our vision in creating a more mindful community of diverse experiences and respect, we must first understand our past, and how it impacts our present. Studying history and continued lifelong learning are the foundations for growth and conversation. In honor of Black History month, we reflect and recognize the power of those who came before us to better appreciate the influence that we now have as individuals, and as a community, in creating the intelligent future we wish to live.

Sincerely,
Isabelle Bajeux
Tepper School Dean