Faculty Fellow in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Makini Beck, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in Individualized Education, School of Individualized Study. She joined RIT in 2018 and has since become a recognized leader in student advocacy and diversity initiatives. In 2023, she received the prestigious RIT Division of Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Beacon Award, highlighting her dedication to fostering an inclusive academic environment. Dr. Beck was awarded a $600k National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES grant to support women of color STEM students, called WiSEN.

Her research spans across 14 co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and edited books, focusing on co-mentoring partnerships among women of color academics, the pedagogical practices of international women teachers in urban schools, and the experiences of women of color in STEM higher education. She has delivered over 60 presentations at local, national, and international conferences, sharing her insights on these important topics.

At RIT, Dr. Beck teaches courses that explore Urban Poverty, Urban Injustice, Black American culture, Hip Hop, and Research in Cultural Contexts. She has also co-led study abroad courses to Dubrovnik, Croatia (2022), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2023), and Dubai, UAE (2023), with an upcoming trip to Ghana planned for 2024-2025.

Dr. Beck holds a BA in American Studies from SUNY Old Westbury, an MSEd in Secondary Education from St. Bonaventure University, and a Ph.D. in Teaching and Curriculum from the University of Rochester. She draws inspiration from Winston Churchill’s famous quote, “...never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

In her free time, Dr. Beck enjoys international travel, reading, and volunteering at the EquiCenter William and Mildred Levine Ranch in Honeoye Falls, NY. She is ever grateful for the unwavering support of her husband, Jack Beck, a professor in the School of Film and Animation at RIT’s College of Art and Design.

Key areas of expertise:
Social and cultural foundations of education; research methods; urban poverty; foundations of sociology; hip hop music and culture; minority relations.

Contact Makini Beck to discuss your teaching.