2026 Black Studies Summer Institute

2026 Black Studies Summer Institute

The Summer Institute will be held:

Sessions: Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17, 2026
Final Presentations & Closing: Monday, July 20 to Wednesday, July 22, 2026

2026 Black Studies Summer Institute for High School Educators

This eight-day Summer Institute is for St. Louis metropolitan region high school educators who either incorporate aspects of Black culture, history, and literature in their courses or admin / teachers at a school that offers or plans to offer the AP/African American Studies course. The Institute will center St. Louis as the focal point for various themes and topics related to African & African American Studies.

The Summer Institute will:

  • expose participants to Washington University scholars with expertise in African and African American Studies,
  • give participants access to and knowledge about resources in Olin Library, particularly the Special Collections holdings related to African American culture, history, political movements, and arts, and
  • provide participants support in developing content, instructional activities & field trips for incorporating St. Louis & Black Studies lessons into their courses.

Morning & Afternoon Sessions:

Each day of the Institute is divided into a morning session (9:00 AM—12:00 PM), lunch, and an afternoon session (1:30 PM—4:00 PM). The morning session will feature a presentation by a Washington University scholar on a specific theme or subject relevant to the Institute. The afternoon session features a presentation or a field trip to a relevant St. Louis or on-campus site.

Closing Sessions:

During the closing sessions, educators present ideas for incorporating information from the institute into their future lesson plans or classes.

Questions? Contact us

Apply Here

Co-Sponsors:

The Department of African & African American Studies

Summer Institute Leads & Faculty Facilitators

Lead Facilitators

Dr. Marlon Bailey, Associate Chair & Professor, African & African American Studies, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies 

 

Gerald Early | Department of African and African-American Studies

Dr. Gerald Early, Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters, English & African & African American Studies

 

 

Summer Institute Fieldtrips

Washington University in St. Louis University Libraries

St. Louis National Blues Museum 

Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association

St. Louis Riverfront Adventures

The Black Rep