Mission Statement

Black and African Diaspora Forum United (BADFU) is an organization of Black/African American faculty, and their allies, at Monmouth University specifically concerned with the unique challenges of Black/African American academics at predominantly white institutions of higher education. We are open to all faculty, staff, and personnel working at Monmouth University interested in identifying issues specific to the Black Diaspora experience in academia and advancing equitable opportunities for Black and African Diaspora faculty in the classroom, administration, and the institution as a whole.
Major Goals and Objectives of BADFU
- Identifying institutional practices that have had a detrimental impact on Black and African Diaspora members of the University community, and working with administration and faculty constituencies to effect changes in these practices.
- Support the increase of faculty, students, and staff of Black/African American descent in the classroom and beyond.
- Advocate for the greater participation of Black/African American faculty in the shared governance of the institution including in key administrative positions.
- Serve as a resource to the institution on matters related to the Black and African Diaspora experience while providing advice through regular dialogue with key stakeholders at the university.

Fall 2020 Events
- Podcast Launch:
- Monday, September 7, Episode 1, Season
- Fall Meeting Schedule:
- Thursday, September 24, 2 p.m. via Zoom
- Friday, October 23, 11 a.m. via Zoom
Spring 2021 Events

- 3rd Annual MLK Distinguished Lecture in Social Justice:
- Wednesday, January 27 from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m: This event will be held virtually. We are very fortunate to host one of the leading antiracist scholars in the country on our campus, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of the New York Times bestselling How to be an Antiracist. Dr. Hettie V. Williams, Assistant Professor of African American History, will be joining Dr. Kendi in dialogue.
- Black History Month Program:
- Wednesday, February 10, 2021 @ 7 p.m: Policing in Communities of Color: A Conversation on Police Violence, Black Lives Matter, and Police Reform with Dr. Marie Mele, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice
Learn More About BADFU
Contact us more information about our programs, events, and advocacy
Web Site: sites.google.com/view/badfu/event-info
Email: Badfacultyunion@gmail.com
Follow Us on Social Media:
- Twitter: @bad_union
- YouTube: BADFU Union of Monmouth
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/black_faculty2020/
This Week in Black History, Society, and Culture
This Week in Black History, Society, and Culture is a weekly podcast produced by the Black and African Diaspora Forum United (BADFU), Members will periodically interview scholars, authors, activists, and community leaders on matters related to the history, society, and culture of Black and African American communities in the United States (U.S.) and beyond.
Members and Affiliated Faculty

Julius Adekunle, Ph.D.
Professor;
Director of African Diaspora Studies;
Scholarly interests: Politics, religion, culture, leadership
Email: jadekunl@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-571-4478

Jason Adolf, Ph.D.
Professor;
Endowed Associate Professor of Marine Science
Email: jadolf@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5687

Melissa A. Brzycki, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor;
Scholarly interests: East Asia, Childhood & Youth, Popular Culture, Gender & Sexuality;
Director of Graduate Program in History;
Email: mbrzycki@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5709


Lisa M. Dinella, Ph.D.
Professor;
Principal Investigator of the Gender Development Laboratory;
Director of Program in Gender and Intersectionality Studies (PGIS)
Email: ldinella@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5295

David J. Ford, Jr., Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS
Acting Department Chair;
Associate Professor
Email: dford@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-923-4620

Johanna E. Foster, Ph.D.
Associate Professor;
Director, Sociology Program;
Helen Bennett McMurray Endowed Chair in Social Ethics
Email: jfoster@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5440



Katherine Parkin, Ph.D.
Professor;
Jules Plangere, Jr., Endowed Chair in American Social History
Email: kparkin@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-571-4492

Nicole Pulliam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor;
Director of the Social Justice Academy
Email: npulliam@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-571-7507

Zaneta Rago-Craft
Director, Intercultural Center and Advisor to the President on Diversity and Inclusion;
Adjunct
Email: zragocra@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5505

Karen Schmelzkopf, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Geography;
Email: kschmelz@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-571-3602


Claude Taylor
Director For Academic Transition And Inclusion
Email: ctaylor@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5668


Hettie V. Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in African American History;
President of the African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS)
Email: hwilliam@monmouth.edu
Phone: 732-263-5703