About

The FJN was developed to create and maintain an inviting and supportive virtual and physical space for racialized and minoritized faculty that is responsive to their unique social, cultural, academic and professional development needs and interests.

There are a number of ways to join the FJN.

FJN Faculty Members are racially-minoritized faculty who participate in monthly meetings and social gatherings, collaborate with organizations on campus and in the local community, as well as host, sponsor, promote and support programs and events aligned with FJN goals.
FJN Staff Members are racially-minoritized staff who participate in monthly meetings and social gatherings, collaborate with organizations on campus and in the local community, as well as host, sponsor, promote and support programs and events aligned with FJN goals.
FJN Graduate Affiliates are racially-minoritized graduate students who wish to be affiliated with the FJN as a resource network that may provide social, cultural, as well as academic support.
FJN Advocates are non-racially-minoritized faculty and administrators who openly support initiatives that promote the well-being and success of their racially-minoritized peers and students. They may attend and support FJN initiatives and events, offer and identify resources to enrich membership needs, and curate a greater sense of community on and off-campus.
FJN Community Members may include a person, campus organization, local business, community organization/partner who is openly supportive of FJN goals and objectives and works with the FJN to promote community and holistic well-being among all marginalized persons on and beyond the WVU campus.

History of the Faculty Justice Network

During the summer of 2020, in response to students who had authored a letter calling on the university to improve its retention of Black and Brown faculty, President Gee convened an Academic Work Group focused on what WVU could do better to create and support a thriving community of Black and Brown faculty.

Informed by findings from a pilot study of faculty of color at WVU conducted by the Provost’s Office, and research conducted by the Faculty Senate Committee on Equity and Inclusion regarding the underrepresentation of Black and Brown faculty at WVU, it was determined that priority should be given to the development and institutionalization of a faculty of color network whose primary objective would be to

foster connections between its members,

be responsive to the expressed social, cultural, academic, and professional development needs of its members, and

curate a culturally-reflective physical space on campus where its members can sponsor both culturally-responsive professional and community development programming, regularly interact with each other, and support critical connections with both professional staff and students from their racial/ethnic groups.

In January of 2021, development of the network commenced, and an advisory team of faculty from racially minoritized groups was convened. One of the first items discussed was the official name of the network.