The Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE), in collaboration with the Provost, launched the Faculty Development Initiative (FDI) in 2007 under the leadership of former CCSRE Director Al Camarillo. The FDI’s primary goal is to facilitate the appointment of outstanding faculty across the University that will help expand the research and teaching mission of the CCSRE.  The Initiative is designed to recruit outstanding emerging and established scholars,  promoting faculty diversity and leading-edge scholarship across disciplines to advance race and ethnicity studies in the U.S. and around the world. 

The FDI is currently directed by C. Matthew Snipp, Vice Provost for Faculty Development, Diversity, and Engagement, and Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences.