About Tracing Race at ISU

Project Overview

Tracing Race at ISU was a collaborative initiative active from 2019-2024 to build collections and resources that reflect the diversity of ideas, cultures, and experiences of our university community, and to support education, research and scholarship that engages with the history of race at Iowa State University. Proposals were accepted from all Iowa State University students, faculty, and staff in any discipline. Library staff worked with project leads to meet their unique support needs whether for an individual research project or a course-integrated project. Through this initiative project teams gained valuable skills in digital scholarship methods, archival research, and primary source analysis.

Values Statements

Inclusivity: The Tracing Race at Iowa State University initiative seeks to support digital scholarship expressions that center the history and experiences of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) at Iowa State University broadly defined to include any activities or members of the campus community on or off campus.

Transparency: The Tracing Race at ISU initiative values the open, candid exploration of often difficult but important aspects of our university’s history including experiences of racism and discrimination and the activism that has arisen in response to these experiences.

Intersectionality: The Tracing Race at ISU initiative values the exploration of the intersections of race with other marginalized identities.

FAQ

What do you mean by “digital project?”

Any expression of your research and exploration in the digital medium. Your project can take many forms and Digital Scholarship & Initiatives is committed to supporting an array of digital projects. If you have an idea but are unsure of the feasibility of the project, you are encouraged to request a pre-proposal meeting with one of our DSI staff members to discuss by requesting a consult. All project proposals will receive a technology feasibility review before being considered by the Advisory Group for support through the Tracing Race initiative.

The initiative says it is looking for projects about the history of race “at Iowa State University.” Does that include off-campus activities? What about Extension and Outreach?

For this initiative we are interested in the history of the Iowa State University community broadly defined to include both on and off-campus events and experiences involving faculty, students, staff, and alumni of Iowa State University, Extension and Outreach, and affiliated organizations.

How do I find sources to support my project?

We encourage the use of source materials held by Iowa State University Library. For instructions and guidance on working with library collections, please see our research guide. We realize there will be research areas where materials are scarce or difficult to access. ISU librarians and archivists can also assist in locating materials outside of the library.

How will projects be selected?

Proposals will be reviewed by the Advisory Group and selected based on alignment with the scope and values of the Tracing Race at ISU initiative. Consideration will also be given to the technical feasibility of the proposed project.

What kind of support will selected projects receive?

Digital Scholarship & Initiatives (DSI) staff will provide technical support (training, access to software etc), development and project management or coordination as needed for projects. Other Library units will also be able to assist if needed. DSI is also poised to help connect researchers and skills if those are lacking either by the project’s submitter or in the library. Additionally, the Library offers $2,500 awards for selected student projects made possible by the Sanderson Family Library Assistantships fund. See our funding announcement for details.

Advisory Group

Past Advisory Group Members:

Erin Ridnour, Digital Scholarship Librarian, University Library

Hannah Scates Kettler, Associate University Librarian for Academic Services, University Library

Brian Behnken, Professor, History and Latino/a Studies; Affiliate Faculty, African and African American Studies

Jordan Brooks, Assistant Dean for Intercultural Initiatives and Resource Centers; Director, Multicultural Student Affairs

Theressa Cooper, Assistant Dean for Diversity, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

April Finley, Student Services Specialist, NCORE-ISCORE Office, Division of Student Affairs

Carmen Flagge, Director of Multicultural Student Success, College of Human Sciences

Harrison Inefuku, Scholarly Publishing Services Librarian, University Library

Japannah Kellogg, Director of the NCORE-ISCORE Office, Division of Student Affairs

Kris Kilibarda, Director of the Program for Women in Science and Engineering, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost

nicci port, Coordinator for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Outreach and Community Engagement, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

José Antonio Rosa, Professor, John and Deborah Ganoe Faculty Fellow; Faculty Fellow, Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Eulanda Sanders, Chief Strategist of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, College of Human Sciences; Donna R. Danielson Professor in Textiles and Clothing

Kenyatta Shamburger, Assistant Dean, Dean of Students Office; Director, Multicultural Student Affairs

Susan Vega Garcia, Assistant Dean for Inclusion and Equity, University Library

Denise Williams-Klotz, Assistant Director, Multicultural Student Affairs