» Unveiling the Legacy of Avery: Decoteau J. Irby

I attended the College of Charleston from 1998 – 2002. I graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the business school. During my time at CofC, I also served for two years as president of the Black Student Union. 

I worked at Avery Research Center as an undergraduate intern for the duration of my time at CofC. While serving as an intern, I lead a community engaged research project aimed at curbing residential displacement and ensuring the Eastside community reaped economic benefits from a proposed arena. I conducted interviews and organized a series of meetings, some held at Avery, between residents, city council members, and the college’s administration. 

My archival work at Avery Research Center focused on sorting, organizing, and archiving civil rights champion and educator Septima Clark’s personal letters and political correspondence. I also gave tours and served as a resource for scholars from all over the world who visited Charleston for dissertation research projects related to Low Country Black history. 

Serving as both Black Student Union president and intern for Avery Research Center, I played a central role in connecting CofC’s Black undergraduate students and youth serving organizations with Avery’s programming. For instance, I organized and led tours for local elementary schools, facilitated the SPECTRA summer program annual visit, and coordinated dozens of educational and social events that brought Black students and youth into the walls of the center. 

My experience at Avery was my first exposure to academic research, and it was an important steppingstone for my career in academia. I am now a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, community-engaged researcher, and author of several books, most recently “Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change” published by Teachers College Press. I’m thankful for my time at Avery and proud to carry on its tradition of Black education and scholarship.