Ralph Bunche Societies

Since 1911, Phelps Stokes has worked with colleges and universities and organizations to develop the leadership skills of people of all races and backgrounds. Among the distinguished leaders of Phelps Stokes was Dr. Ralph Bunche (1904-1971) who served as a member of the Board of Trustees for over twenty years. As a scholar, educator, civil rights advocate and world statesman, Bunche achieved international renown as the first person of color to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Bunche is considered by many to be America’s greatest contributor to the United Nations in the areas of decolonization, peacekeeping and human and civil rights as the former United Nations Under-Secretary General. The Ralph Bunche Societies (RBS), established in 2006, seek to tackle issues that are as relevant today as they were in Bunche’s time. They address the need for greater minority involvement in the international arena, prepare minority students to become full and active participants in the global community and expand academic and career opportunities.

To meet its goals, Phelps Stokes partners with interested colleges and universities to establish Ralph Bunche Societies. Open to all, but with an emphasis on minority and working class students, the Ralph Bunche Societies are extracurricular, undergraduate, student-led associations dedicated to developing global citizens – regardless of their field of study. They encourage students to embrace the life work, legacy and values of Ralph Bunche through an emphasis on scholarly excellence, language proficiency, cultural awareness, community activism, professional and leadership development.

Although each RBS chapter has flexibility in terms of specific activities to pursue, a few standard elements provide structure and guidance including: toolkits that include works about Bunche, language learning software, grant writing materials, professional and leadership development resources, etc.; mini-grants; internship information and guidance; promotion of study abroad and international exchanges; and foreign language learning. The students are encouraged to build upon a core set of activities designed by Phelps Stokes to make their Society unique. RBS also provides leadership development and professional development opportunities for faculty and administrators to help facilitate the expansion of both internationalization and leadership on campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Participating institutions include:

• Winston-Salem State University

• University of Maryland-College Park

• University of Virginia

For more information about the Ralph Bunche Societies, visit the official website here or contact Bethany Dickerson Wynder, Director of the Ralph Bunche Societies, at (202) 371-9544 ext. 237 or bdickerson@phelpsstokes.org. For more information about the Ralph Bunche Societies in North Carolina, please contact Phelps Stokes Fellow William McKee at mckee@phelpsstokes.org.