Darryl Mace PH.D., longtime history/political science professor and department chair, leaves Cabrini – Loquitur

The exodus of Cabrini’s faculty continues, this time affecting the departments of history and political science.

Cabrini University President Donald Taylor announced Dec. 1 that Dr. Darryl Mace, chair of the history and political science departments, will be leaving to join Alvernia University as vice president for mission, diversity and inclusion.

He was to give classes in the spring at Cabrini. However, after the announcement of this announcement, he will leave the university once the fall semester is over.

Mace has been with Cabrini since 2005 and has been an integral part of the university since his arrival. He was champion for Diversity as he implemented strategic plans and initiatives within the Diversity Task Force, of which he was a founding member and co-chair.

With a passion for promoting inclusivity in his work, he also led the way in establishing the Black Curricula, American Studies, Gender and Body Studies, Latin American Studies, Religious Studies, and Cultural Studies at the university. However, gender and body studies were among the majors cut last spring. Black and religious studies were downgraded to minors in the process.

President of the Union of Negro Students, Naiser Warren-Robinson, weighed in on the huge news that swept through the university. He was able to meet Mace while in the black studies program.

“To roughly sum up, there would never have been a Black Studies program at Cabrini without Dr. Mace, along with many other diversity initiatives that were put in place,” Warren-Robinson said. “The way he has come in and made a change in almost every environment he’s stepped into is just inspiring, and I got a sense of that during the few times I got to speak with him during the DCI meetings that I had the pleasure of attending. on behalf of BSU.

Mace made his lectures relevant to everyday life. Many of his former colleagues and students have praised this approach to teaching.

Geralyn Brown, social media co-chair of the Black Student Union and junior business management student, agrees with those sentiments.

“One of the teachers who actually emphasized in his teachings things that were actually relevant to our experience and our roots, as he spoke about the struggles that African Americans and minorities had to endure during the American history. Taking his Spike Lee film course and minoring in black studies showed me his immense creativity and dedication to his profession. said Brown.

One of Mace’s close colleagues, Joseph Fitzgerald, an associate professor of history and political science, was saddened to learn that his friend would be leaving college. However, Fitzgerald was happy to have Mace officially hold a DEI position at Alvernia, as much of his work at Cabrini focused on diversity education.

Awareness of diversity has always been his greatest motivation. Photo by Cabrini University

“I was happy and sad at the same time. I’m happy that he’s officially in a DEI role because he’s basically been doing this job here at Cabrini since 2005. At the same time, I’m sad that he’s no longer working directly with such a stellar professional, and someone who always leads by example,” Fitzgerald said. “I am losing such an important professional mentor; Dr. Mace helped me become the best teacher I could be.

“Dr. Mace has worked tirelessly and with passion to carry out Cabrini’s social justice mission, and all of us – students, staff, faculty, trustees and the Board – owe Dr. Mace a debt of gratitude because he showed us the way forward. said Fitzgerald.

Dr. James Hedtke, professor of history and political science, expressed similar sentiments when Mace left.

“It’s a happy moment and a sad moment. I’m happy for Dr. Mace because he can play an administrative role for diversity and Iinclusion. It’s sad for the department to lose Dr. Mace and for the students. I would call it a happy-sad moment,” Hedtke said. “Dr. Mace is an excellent teacher, a renowned scholar, and a role model for his students and colleagues.

Besides his contributions to Cabrini, Mace is an accomplished author of numerous books. Picture from Amazon.com

“One thing to take away from all of this is that Dr Mace’s career trajectory has been one that he has developed and that’s a classic example of how someone can build the future they want to have, and in which a person can do well by doing good. Students can learn from Dr. Mace’s example, just like the rest of us,” Fitzgerald said.