Former St. Louis mayor Tishaura Jones will join WashU through a newly created fellowship offered by WashU’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE2), where among other things she will “engage both campus and community audiences in dialogue around critical issues of race & ethnicity,” according to the center’s goals.

The fellowship, which will begin next spring, comes at a time of heated controversy surrounding discussions of race and ethnicity in higher education. WashU has recently rolled back some DEI-related content on its websites and formed a committee to review some DEI efforts.

Executive Director of CRE2 Dwight McBride emphasized that the center’s work is research-driven rather than pushing for DEI initiatives at the school. 

“Whereas DEI refers to organizational strategies for workplace diversity and inclusion, our focus is on generating scholarship, fostering intellectual dialogue, and creating opportunities for academic and community engagement around the study of the functions of race and ethnicity,” McBride said.

A large part of Jones’ role is to host events to foster discussions and research on race and ethnicity. In her role as Visiting Distinguished Fellow, the website says Jones will “help recruit and invite other notable figures to join campus conversations and public programs.”

“She is working with us to curate what are shaping up to be four events that will take place over the spring semester and will engage WashU students, the broader WashU academic community, and broader community publics, respectively,” McBride wrote. 

As of now, the exact details of these events and who the speakers will be are still unclear.

McBride said they chose Jones as its inaugural Visiting Distinguished Fellow due to her experience in civil service, especially as a Black woman. 

“We see Mayor Jones’s extensive experience as former mayor, former city treasurer, and as a former state representative as especially relevant to the broader study and understanding of how race (and gender) impact civic service and leadership,” McBride wrote.

Reflecting on her time in politics to St. Louis Public Radio, Jones expressed some relief at stepping away from the public eye. 

“It’s been interesting not having to have an opinion on everything that happens on either level, the state, local, or national level. Now I can just pay attention if I want to, or tune it all out if I want to,” Jones said. 

The former mayor could not be reached for comment on this article.

McBride expressed hope that the fellowship would bring interesting and knowledgeable people to WashU’s campus. 

“We look forward to inviting future civic leaders with relevant experience and backgrounds, or scholars who study race and civic leadership, to join us in this role in future.”