Why Curtis?

Who we are; What we do!

Who We Are

The James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change (JLCSC) at Albion College is a story over 100 years in the making. It is a story deeply rooted in what Albion College has always offered its students an opportunity to realize one’s truest potential. Born in Jim Crow, Georgia, a child of the Great Migration, raised in small-town America, Dr. Curtis’s lived experiences shaped his understanding of the world. One of Albion College’s first African American students he excelled in the wake of discrimination and adversity.

From these humble beginnings, he attended medical school, became a psychiatrist, and went on to practice, teach, and research ways to make the world a better place. With his ambition, and willingness to challenge social norms Dr. Curtis became a trailblazer. This is what the Curtis Institute stands for; this is what we offer our members: An opportunity to dream, set goals, and aspire. To become a 21st-century change makes leaving a lasting impact on society. Our members connect their lived experiences with interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition toward promoting a more just and equitable society. We invite you to explore what JLCSC has to offer you so you may offer the world all that you can!

What We Do

The James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change is an interdisciplinary, membership-based learning center designed to enrich Albion College students interested in pursuing pathways of thought related to its focus areas. Devoted to the pursuit of personal enrichment towards academic and career pathways post-college, the Curtis Institute seeks to connect historically underrepresented groups to culturally relevant academic and experiential learning experiences rooted in equity, and social justice in various fields.