Howard University Public Interest Technology Case Studies

Howard University is a private, historically Black university (HBCU), classified as a doctoral university with “high research activity” (R2 university). To date, Howard, which has 13 schools and colleges, has awarded more than 120,000 degrees in the arts, the sciences, and the humanities, and has more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. Howard is a natural home for Public Interest Technology as it is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and STEM-based professional education, and the university is dedicated to its motto: “Veritas et Utilitas” - “Truth and Service.” Howard students spend thousands of hours in service to the adjoining neighborhood of LeDroit Park, as well as around the nation and across the world. Moses Garuba, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture, states that doing PIT is not explicit in his university’s vision and activities, “but it is part of what we do.” Garuba says, “We provide learning and research for the public interest, and specifically for Black people and communities.” The university’s commitment has been to the study of disadvantaged persons in American society and throughout the world with the aim of removing inequities related to race, color, social, economic, and political circumstances. Given this background, we have classified the case studies below, as well as under all the PIT activities identified at Howard, under one or more of the following themes: learning, scholarship, engagement as well as Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).