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With several staffing additions in the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Carthage is visibly advancing its commitment to an inclusive learning and work environment.

  • In April, Professor Julius Crump became the director of equity and inclusion for faculty and academic integration.

  • Endia McWhorter-Robbins will join the staff in mid-June as director of equity and inclusion for student engagement.

  • The Intercultural Center has reopened, staffed six days a week by student employees.


In collaboration with vice president Michele Hancock, the two new full-time staff members will have broad responsibilities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Carthage. Through education and support, they’ll help to propel the College’s anti-racism plan while heightening a campus-wide sense of belonging.

“I have no doubt these two equity-minded leaders will contribute immensely to our work at Carthage,” said Prof. Hancock. “Along with the ongoing Moon Shot for Equity initiative and other programs on the horizon, they’ll ramp up our efforts to root out systemic barriers that impede underrepresented students’ path to graduation.”

Faculty and academic integration

Julius Crump In his new role, Prof. Crump will cultivate inclusive teaching methods, community partnerships, and hiring practices. He continues to teach religion classes, as well as the general education course Legacies of Race and Racism in the United States.

After coming to Carthage in 2018 as a postdoctoral fellow, Prof. Crump joined the full-time faculty last fall. He holds several advanced degrees and has published articles on cultural studies and African American theology.

Student engagement

Endia McWhorter-Robbins Tasked with coordinating existing student-focused DEI programs and developing new ones as needed, Ms. McWhorter-Robbins will arrive on familiar ground. She has devoted her educational career to addressing inequities, spanning seven years as an elementary school teacher and six years as a middle school counselor.

Ms. McWhorter-Robbins is working toward a doctorate in education policy (with a concentration in diversity and equity) through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Intercultural Center

The Intercultural Center for Equity, Advocacy, and Engagement is now staffed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday while classes are in session. Located on the main floor of the Todd Wehr Center, it’s a safe space for any students, faculty, and staff to gather.

Students can stop in for information or just to talk. Trained student workers can direct them to available equity and inclusion resources, make connections, or provide guidance to student organizations.