Special collection of articles on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Interdisciplinary Studies with Special Editors Dr. Khadijah O. Miller (Norfolk State University) and Dr. Allison Upshaw (Stillman College)

Submissions should be grounded in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) literature, while also reflective of the diversity of thought, intellectual history and broad-based experiences of HBCU IDS programs. Historical analyses and future-facing visions are especially encouraged. Authors may explore how the legacy of HBCU education has informed the emergence and evolution of interdisciplinary approaches, or how current and future IDS initiatives can respond to societal, technological, and cultural shifts. This is an opportunity to collectively reimagine interdisciplinary studies as a dynamic force for academic innovation and institutional transformation in Black higher education.

We are particularly interested in submissions that identify persistent challenges within HBCU IDS programs—such as institutional support, visibility, integration with traditional departments, and student engagement, all the while foregrounding innovative evidence-based solutions. Contributors are encouraged to reflect on how interdisciplinary programs navigate issues of identity, equity, social justice, and academic freedom within the broader context of Black educational experiences (historical and contemporary). Case studies, program assessments, and strategic planning models are welcomed, especially when they offer transferable insights to other HBCU contexts.

In addition, topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

– Exploring the scope, structure, and significance of Interdisciplinary Studies programs within HBCUs

– Examinations of programmatic design, administrative strategies, and the ideological frameworks that shape and sustain IDS programs across diverse academic and cultural contexts

– Articulation of curricular models, faculty collaboration methods, advising structures, and partnerships that reflect the unique missions of HBCUs and their commitment to community-centered education, that is often interdisciplinary in scope, nature and implementation

– Exploring the integrative reach of interdisciplinary inquiry and the intellectual traditions of HBCUs

– Challenging disciplinary boundaries while centering Black epistemologies, lived experiences, and community-rooted approaches to knowledge

All prospective authors are required to submit a 200-word abstract describing the content of the proposed paper and demonstrating how it addresses the themes of the special issue by September 30, 2025 to Dr. Khadijah O. Miller (komiller@nsu.edu) and Dr. Allison Upshaw (AllisonUpshawPhD@gmail.com)

After an initial review process, authors will be contacted by October 31, 2025, and select authors will be invited to submit a full paper. Only invited manuscripts will be considered for our double-blind peer-review process. Papers should be 5000-7000 words, including references. Longer papers may be considered. All papers should follow APA style. The deadline for submitting invited manuscripts for consideration is February 28, 2026.