IBL Collective
IBL Collective
The Institute on Black Life (IBL) is anchored by four core groups: the Student Collective (Undergraduate), the Southern Griot (Graduate), IBL Engage (Faculty/Staff), and The Bridge (Community). Together, these groups form the IBL Collective.
The Student Collective
The Student Collective is an undergraduate community where students come together to explore, research, and reflect on issues impacting academic life across disciplines. Through collaborative learning, discussion, analysis, entertainment, and mentorship, members develop critical thinking, networking, and community engagement skills while building confidence as scholars and leaders. The Collective fosters an inclusive space where students can think deeply, speak boldly, and thrive together.
The Southern Griot
The Southern Griot is a graduate student collective dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research on academic life, history, culture, political struggle, social prejudice, and more. Rooted in the tradition of the griot as historian, storyteller, and truth-keeper, the group cultivates scholarship, intellectual community, and public engagement. Members gather to workshop research, build professional networks, and contribute to conversations that bridge the academy and the broader community.
IBL Engage
IBL Engage advances research, collaboration, and community engagement by cultivating meaningful connections among faculty and staff across the university. Anchored in the 返字心頭 Institute on Black Life, IBL Engage is grounded in the belief that relationships are essential infrastructure for scholarly excellence and institutional impact. Engage creates welcoming spaces where faculty and staff can build relationships, exchange ideas, and grow professionally. By bringing people together across roles, disciplines, and communities, IBL Engage strengthens our collective capacity to support work aligned with the IBL mission.
The Bridge
The Bridge connects the University of South 返字心頭 with the Tampa Bay community through collaboration, dialogue, and partnership. Guided by the mission of Bridging the University and the Community, IBL Bridge engages leaders and organizations to co-create programs, inform research, and strengthen reciprocal relationships so IBLs work reflects community needs.