Bard Graduate Center is devoted to the study of decorative arts, design history, and material culture through research, advanced degrees, exhibitions, publications, and events.

Bard Graduate Center (BGC) announces the appointment of Ama Codjoe to the newly created position of Consulting Director of Equity and Inclusion. In this part-time role, she will report directly to BGC Founder and Director Susan Weber and provide leadership and direction to ensure that BGC’s organizational structure and practices appropriately reflect its stated goals of creating an inclusive and equitable community for all of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Codjoe’s responsibilities will include supporting BGC’s Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) Working Group; conducting departmental “residencies,” focused periods of examination of equity and inclusion practices and strategies as they relate to the work of the department; consulting and participating in the development of BGC’s education and Fields of the Future programs; consulting with individual students, faculty, and staff; working closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications on institutional messaging and with the Director of Administration and Human Resources on administrative systems and policies; and participating in Management Committee discussions on an as needed basis.

Codjoe is the former director of the DreamYard Art Center in the South Bronx where she taught and directed arts and social justice programming for young people as well as professional development for educators and administrators. She has conducted anti-racism, anti-oppression, anti-bias, organizational culture, and leadership trainings for the New School, New York University, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Queen’s Museum, Cleveland Arts Education Consortium, Groundswell Mural Arts Project, Community MusicWorks, the National League of American Orchestras, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and numerous other educator, arts, and administrative groups. She is the co-director of the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Leadership Institute, CAELI. Codjoe also serves on the board of the MAP Fund. She holds degrees from Brown University, Ohio State University, and New York University.

Codjoe’s relationship with BGC dates to 2017, when she helped develop its Lab for Teen Thinkers. Since then, she has facilitated its first DEAI Working Group, designed its Alumni Dialogues, and consulted on its institutional communications and educational programs. Weber said, “Ama is a gifted educator and a facilitator with a deep commitment to social and racial justice. I am thrilled that she has accepted this expanded role at BGC, which begins on April 15, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to promote diversity, equity, access, and inclusion at BGC.”