The History of Ethnic Studies at USD

May Fu is awarded a tenure track line in Asian American Studies.

Jesse Mills and Michelle Jacob become the first two, full-time tenure track lines in African American Studies and American Indian Studies.

Alberto Pulido becomes the first full-time hire in Ethnic Studies.

The Ethnic Studies major passes the University Curriculum Committee. It easily passes the Academic Assembly. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences also approves the hire of a new director of Ethnic Studies.

Students organized The Silent March and Open Mic, followed by The Talk for Consciousness after the Human Relations workshops with Associated Students. The Ethnic Studies Student Committee is created by United Front and Associated Student leadership teams. A survey is conducted of over 500 students that determined a desire for a more diverse education at USD. In addition, the demand for an Associated Students Vice President of Multicultural Relations position to institutionalized student work is granted.

Students organized The Walk for Consciousness, drawing over 200 students, bringing media attention to matters of diversity and hate crimes at USD, and eliciting a promise from the then provost to to create an Ethnic Studies major.

Students organized a lengthy project demanding the major, the hiring of a director, and a mandatory Diversity (D) course for all USD students.

First ethnic studies course taught at USD.

Ethnic studies minor established with no funding or hires given.

Second Irvine Grant awarded to USD, none allotted for ethnic studies.

Concerned faculty and students began discussing the possibility of creating an Ethnic Studies program.

Creation of the United Front Multicultural Center.

First Irvine Grant of $1.67 million, none allotted for ethnic studies.