I propose using two historical case studies related to the history of higher education to introduce students to how people like themselves learned to navigate institutional powers strategically to create social change. I plan to focus on Black Education, specifically in the Classics, during the late 19th century through the lens of William Sanders Scarborough and Anna Julia Cooper. Scarborough and Cooper were both born into slavery, faced systemic racism in their attempts to achieve a formal education, and became powerful advocates for a discipline that has historically been co-opted by the white male elite. Scarborough and Cooper learned to navigate an educational landscape that denied Black Americans’ intellectual capabilities, especially in the field of Classics. Rather than rejecting the curriculum, they mastered it and used their prominence in the field to advance social change while remaining true to their authentic selves.
These case studies can help current college students consider the ways in which they can enact change, even in oppressive systems. Is it possible to work within existing structures to change them gradually? Does radical transformation risk alienating key decision-makers and influencers? Are there ways to build alternative structures that exist outside of oppressive structures? Questions like these will be at the forefront of the interactive workshop, as students will learn how to take the leadership lessons of the past to help inform their responses to contemporary issues.
Presented By: Sarah Wack, University at Buffalo
Sarah Wack is the LEAD Coordinator for Leadership and Development in the Office of Student Engagement at the University at Buffalo, where she oversees Leadership House, a selective program for first-year students, and teaches leadership development courses. She designs and facilitates retreats, provides individualized mentorship, and delivers workshops for the wider university community. Sarah holds a BA in History, an MA in History, and an MEd in Higher Education and Student Affairs from UB, along with New York State teaching certifications in Social Studies and English Language Arts, Grades 7–12. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta, she has received UB’s College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior in History Award and earned Best in Conference at Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conferences for her research on Julia Ward Howe (2023) and William Sanders Scarborough (2024).