Interviewer(s): Natalie Garza

Project: University of Houston

Dr. Joe Pratt is the NEH Cullen Professor of History and Business at the University of Houston. In this interview Dr. Pratt talks about diversity amongst the faculty and graduate students at the University of Houston. As a faculty member of the History department, he provides examples of what the History department has done to improve diversity of both its faculty and its training of African American and Mexican American graduate students. Dr. Pratt talks about the importance of diversity in academia because it translates into diversity of thought. He also begins the interview explaining how he first got involved with issues of diversity at the University of Houston, and finally the importance of funding in improving and maintaining diversity.