ABSTRACT
The student development theories that informed the creation of the program are Black Identity Development and Sense of Belonging. This chapter provides a description of the program, guiding theories, and assessment and evaluation techniques. The staff member works in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center under the Division of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. Student support is partially gauged through a needs assessment administered early in the program and throughout the semester. The development of Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative members is facilitated through curricular and co-curricular activities designed to address students holistically, and specifically to address the development of healthy Black identities as students navigate adult nigrescence. As active members of the Mizzou community, participants not only support the efforts of their peers, but also advocate for and facilitate programs that enrich both the Black student experience and larger campus community.
