Our People
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Our People
We bring the right people together for the right reasons. IRJ provides resources and structures to allow faculty, students, and community leaders from across Loyola, Chicago, and beyond to build meaningful partnerships and collaborate on transformative research and education.
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Leading for Racial Justice
IRJ is led by Dr. Malik S. Henfield, professor and founding dean of the Institute. His scholarship examines Black students' lived experiences and explores how their successes are impeded and enhanced by school, family, and community contexts. As a counselor educator, he has worked tirelessly with school systems and policymakers across the country to diversify the counseling profession and to improve the lives of marginalized families and communities.
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Meet Our Team
Faculty, fellows, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students work together to power IRJ. Get to know our dedicated and dynamic team.
Our Affiliates & Partners
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MAPSCorp
One of our community partners, MAPSCorps, is an organization that empowers youth to leverage data to improve the human condition, especially within historically underserved communities.
![The Chicago Urban League works to achieve equity for Black families and communities through social and economic empowerment. The Chicago Urban League works to achieve equity for Black families and communities through social and economic empowerment.](/media/lucedu/irj/images/2022/IRJ-Our-People-CHI-Urban-League-Logo_1000x560.jpg)
Chicago Urban League
The Chicago Urban League works to achieve equity for Black families and communities through social and economic empowerment.
![Through advocacy and analysis, the Forum builds a foundation for equity, justice and economic prosperity for the Latino community. Through advocacy and analysis, the Forum builds a foundation for equity, justice and economic prosperity for the Latino community.](/media/lucedu/irj/images/2022/IRJ-Our-People-Latino-Forum-Logo_1000x560.jpg)
Latino Policy Forum
Through advocacy and analysis, the Forum builds a foundation for equity, justice and economic prosperity for the Latino community.
![As one of our policy partners in equity work, the Illinois State Board of Education, is actively working to integrate equity into the routine work of As one of our policy partners in equity work, the Illinois State Board of Education, is actively working to integrate equity into the routine work of](/media/lucedu/irj/images/2022/IRJ-Our-People-IL-Edu-Logo_1000x560.jpg)
Illinois State Board of Education
As one of our policy partners in equity work, the Illinois State Board of Education, is actively working to integrate equity into the routine work of pK-12 districts in Illinois.