Understanding Anti-Blackness at HSRUs
July 10, 2026
"At Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), conversations about diversity often center on supporting Hispanic/Latine students. New research from scholars at University of New Mexico highlights an important and sometimes overlooked issue--the experiences of Black students at these universities, specifically those classified as R1, or highly research-intensive institutions.
The study, titled Conceptualizing Anti-Blackness at Hispanic-Serving Research Universities, explores how a broad array of Black students self-identifies, ways anti-Blackness shows up on campus, how it affects students, and what universities can do to create more inclusive environments.
It was led by Brandi Wells-Stone, director of African American Student Services, Assata Zerai, vice president Division for Change and Empowerment and professor within the College of Arts and Sciences, and Teresa Neely, professor of librarianship in the College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences.
The study was motivated by a noticeable gap in higher education. The research team observed the low percentages of Black students and faculty across all R1 universities that are Hispanic Serving Institutions, along with existing literature showing that Black students often struggle to belong in these environments."
— Coverage courtesy of Anna Padilla, UNM Newsroom
Read more about the study at UNM Newsroom or at https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/15/3/151.
