UW–Madison’s Naomi Mae W., an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies, has been appointed to a statewide task force for the Michigan Black Student Project.
The Michigan Black Student Project is a state-funded initiative developed through advocacy by community organizers, leaders, and activists. The task force is convened by the Michigan Education Justice Coalition and will serve through September 2027. Members were selected through a rigorous application process to help guide a state-funded, community-based research initiative focused on supporting Black and Brown students and educators across the state.
According to the task force description, members will help shape and oversee the implementation of a multi-phase research initiative addressing issues including culturally responsive education, the recruitment and retention of Black and Brown educators, and the school-to-prison pipeline. The group will also collaborate on requests for proposals, evaluate grantee submissions, and help ensure that community voices remain central throughout the research process — guiding the use of more than $1.5 million in tax funding.
Learn more about the Michigan Education Justice Coalition.