Our Story - Equity Diversity and Inclusion

What is Blackademia?

Blackademia is the Black at Western Virtual Hub. The objective of Blackademia is to re-imagine and re-design the Black experience at Western University by intentionally creating and holding meaningful space for Black students, staff, faculty, alumni and communities. Blackademia was created to meet the inclusion, belonging, educational and mentorship needs of our Black-identifying community members at Western.

This dedicated virtual hub is a designated, inclusive network for dialogue, recognition, connection and inclusion. Blackademia aligns with Towards Western at 150 (People, Community and Culture), the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Accessibility (EDIDA) Strategic Plan: Advancing Inclusive Excellence and Western University's pledge to fighting anti-Black racism and promoting Black inclusion as a signatory of the Scarborough Charter.

Why was Blackademia created?

Despite meaningful efforts in recent years, a significant gap remains between Western’s anti‑racist commitments and the lived experiences of one of its historically underrepresented communities: Black students, faculty, and staff. Blackademia exists to help close that gap. Our mission is to actively dismantle systemic inequities and barriers by fostering a vibrant virtual space—one intentionally rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion, and designed to celebrate and support Black flourishing at Western.

Mission

Blackademia will serve as a virtual partnership connecting Black students, staff, and faculty while bridging Western’s academic community with London’s Black public sector. By offering mentoring, networking, financial planning, leadership development, artistic expression, creativity and storytelling, it seeks to enhance the Black Western experience and address the barriers faced by Black communities. Grounded in the limitless richness of Black life, Blackademia aims to create a space where Blackness at Western can socially, virtually and intellectually thrive, celebrating its depth, complexity and joy.

Impact

This unapologetically Black ecosystem uplifts Blackness across physical and social spaces, creating opportunities for connection without the systemic threat of anti‑Black racism. It increases the visibility of Black students, faculty, and staff across the Western community while fostering a vibrant and supportive network. More than a digital platform, this hub stands as a center of innovation, resilience, and leadership - amplifying Black voices and driving a movement to dismantle barriers and build a future where diversity fuels success for all.

Empathy

We honour the unique experiences, perspectives, and contributions of Black students, faculty, and staff within our university community, recognizing the richness and value they bring to campus life. This virtual hub serves as a dedicated space where Black stories, voices and identities can thrive within a supportive and empowering environment. Together, we are committed to building an inclusive and compassionate community where every Black member feels seen, heard, respected and able to flourish.

What is the Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity?

The Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity recognizes the contributions that Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Louise Forsyth, Glenis Joyce, Audrey Kobayashi, Shree Mulay, Susan Prentice, Michèle Ollivier and Wendy Robbins have made to increase the level of equity within the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) and Canada’s research ecosystem. Their 2003 Canadian Human Rights complaints and concerted efforts in the mediation processes led to the 2006 Settlement Agreement and its addendum in 2019.

Three awards valued at $100,000 are conferred annually through a formal peer review process.

Click the following link to learn more about Western's Robbins-Ollivier Project: "Diversity Western: Enhancing the Black Experience."

Who are the team members who worked on Blackademia?

The Robbins-Ollivier Research Team at Western University is leading a landmark initiative to cultivate a pro‑Black academic ecosystem by centering Black scholarship, community engagement, and institutional transformation. Supported by the Robbins‑Ollivier Award and SSHRC funding, the project applies Afrocentric and intersectional research methodologies to document and address the systemic barriers experienced by Black students, faculty, and staff. This work not only produces Western’s first comprehensive dataset on Black experiences but also strengthens a growing coalition of Black scholars and practitioners dedicated to reshaping the university’s culture and structures through evidence‑based, equity‑driven practices.

The Virtual Hub Team started under the leadership of the Robbins-Ollivier Research Team and was led by Naomi Ngobila, a Western Black Leadership University Experience (B.L.U.E.) student, under the mentorship of Neisa Long and Dr. Nassisse Solomon. The larger Virtual Hub Team consisted of students from the Western B.L.U.E. program, Community Engaged Learning (CEL) program, student researchers and staff who positively uplift the Black at Western Virtual Hub: Blackademia.

Virtual Hub Team

Naomi Ngobila

Team Lead and Western B.L.U.E. Student

Nassisse Solomon

Team Lead

Neisa Long

Staff Lead and Coordinator

Kathryn Fraser

Web and Communications Lead

Eunice Yidana

Staff and Web Support

Kofi Brako

"My four years at Western have fueled my desire to enhance the Black experience on campus. This project represents an invaluable opportunity to foster inclusivity and make our campus more accessible for both present and future Black students, faculty and staff. The project has been immensely fulfilling, connecting me with fellow advocates dedicated to cultivating inclusive black spaces on campus."

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Student

Tavia Gikes

"I spent my first two years at Western online and hybrid, and during that time, I struggled immensely to connect with the Black community and find resources tailored to us. Through this project, I have discovered many resources associated with diverse students, faculty and clubs and learned more about the rich history of Western and London. Working on this project in my final year was a full-circle moment, and I hope that current and incoming Black students can feel empowered and connected in ways that I didn't."

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Student

Martha Valmana Crocker

"Working with the Robbins-Ollivier team has been both rewarding and enlightening. I have had the privilege of listening to and learning from many perspectives, enriching my appreciation for diverse experiences within our community. This project will undoubtedly have a lasting impact, as it fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment in the Black community at Western."

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Student

Sara Wilson

"The significance of this project is long overdue, especially for Black individuals within the Western community, as well as those who are incoming. Working closely with the Robbins-Ollivier team has been both rewarding and surprising, as we uncovered a variety of resources offered by Western that often go unnoticed and have not been easily accessible until this project."

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Student