A primary objective of the BI is to conduct and disseminate research on strategies that can improve educational outcomes for men of color. Using a design-based research approach, our team continuously studies and refines the program through collaborative inquiry, data collection, and iterative design. We examine how educational practices, institutional structures, and student experiences intersect to shape outcomes for men of color in higher education.
This research-driven process allows us to adapt and evolve the initiative in real time, ensuring that our practices remain responsive, student-centered, and grounded in evidence. Insights from our work provide guiding principles that contribute to broader conversations about instruction, professional practice, educational transformation, and equity in postsecondary institutions.
BI students working on a group project in the first-year seminar
Theory of Action Brief Series
This series of nine briefs draws upon our extensive research to provide definitions, background, and implementation examples for both practitioners and administrators in higher education. These findings can be used to inform future inquiry and offer practical considerations when designing initiatives, courses, and partnerships intended to improve outcomes for undergraduate men of color.
Introduction
Brief 1: Introduction to BI Theory of Action
Conditions for Success
Brief 2: Sense of Belonging for Men of Color
Brief 3: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy for Men of Color
Brief 4: Culturally Responsive Guidance for Men of Color
Brief 5: Continuity of Support for Men of Color
Strategic Areas of Student Enrichment
Brief 6: Academic Guidance and Support for Men of Color
Brief 7: Psychosocial and Identity Development for Men of Color
Brief 8: Career Development and Professionalization for Men of Color
Brief 9: Community-Based Learning and Leadership Development for Men of Color
Student-Led Brief Series
This series is co-authored by BI students and alumni, featuring topic overviews, student stories, and considerations for practitioners and student leaders working to promote and inspire student-centered approaches to critical issues impacting men of color in higher education.
Brothers in Research: Promoting Undergraduate Research Through Targeted Support for Men of Color
Near-Peer Mentorship: Empowering Men of Color through Asset-Based and Student-Centered Strategies
Publications
Yeh, T. L., Lott, J. L., & Bauman, K. B. (2023). Building community for men of color through sense of belonging. In E. Rueda & C. Lowe-Swift (Eds.), Academic Belonging in Higher Education: Fostering Student Connection, Competence, and Confidence. Stylus.
Lott, J. & Brundage, T. (2022): Race, Racialization, and Racism: Students of Color and Short-Term Study Abroad Learning. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 1-15.
Lott, J., Bauman, K. M., & Yeh, T. L. (2022). Men of Color Programs at Public Baccalaureate Institutions: A Typology of Institutional Context & Diversity. Research in Higher Education, 1-25.
Lott II, J., Perez, D., & Yeh, T. L. (2021). Cross-Racial Agency: Exploring a New Form of Collaborative Practice to Support Men of Color in Higher Education. Teachers College Record, 123(2),1-40.
Lott, J., & Love, C. (2019). Undergraduate men of color experiences with the 2016 presidential election. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000136