Graduate School-Newark Dean Taja-Nia Henderson Receives Rutgers Torchbearer Award for Fostering Equity

Taja-Nia Henderson, dean of the Graduate School-Newark and a law professor, is the recipient of Rutgers University’s Torchbearer Award, which recognizes leaders who've succeeded in fostering equity in their workplace and communities.

The Torchbearer Award is presented to those who have used academic research, teaching and other forms of engagement, such as program development and leadership, to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and access. Henderson was among 11 university awardees.

The award is also given to faculty who have made a difference in the lives of the cities and towns where Rutgers resides, bridging equity gaps and serving the most vulnerable populations.

In addition to her work as Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Henderson directs the P3 Collaboratory for Pedagogy, Professional Development, and Publicly-Engaged Scholarship at Rutgers-Newark. The collaboratory focuses on institutional interventions that support faculty development over the lifecycle of an academic career.

This year, she created a program for First Generation graduate students, who often face pressure from family members and others to enter the workforce after earning a BA instead of pursuing an advanced degree. The program convenes faculty, alumni and guest speakers to connect with graduate students, share resources, network, and offer advice. 

Henderson is also co-chair of the New Jersey Reparations Council, which was convened by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice to explore the history and impact of slavery in New Jersey.

As a scholar and researcher, Henderson’s work has focused on the historical impact of punishment regimes on property systems in the U.S. She had had a particular interest in the legal histories of incarceration, including prisoner release and “reentry,’’ and chattel slavery. In 2016, she was a Fellow at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.