Prof. Bernice Mayfield Advances Diversity in K-12 as Part of Pulitzer Center 1619 Project Ed. Network (PEN) Cohort

You may have seen NOVA Associate Professor Bernice Mayfield featured in an Instagram Reel earlier this week. If not, check out the reel here, and read more about this beloved NOVA professor and her incredible work below!

“Being part of the 2023 cohort of the Pulitzer Center’s Project Education Network is a most wonderful gift.” — Bernice Mayfield

Bernice Mayfield, professor of early childhood development at NOVA’s Manassas Campus, was selected to participate in the 1619 Project Education Network (PEN) cohort. The 1619 Project Education Network, sponsored by the Pulitzer Center, is a collaborative program focused on culturally responsive pedagogy in K-12 and higher education spaces. The program specifically focuses on building a network of educators who will design, teach and share curricula based on The New York Times Magazine’s 1619 Project and related Pulitzer Center reporting and education resources.

When asked what peaked her interest in the program and how it helps her build her DEI and cultural pedagogy day to day, Mayfield noted her upbringing on the Virginia side of the Va.–N.C. border. “I am a Virginia native and come from a family that valued education. I was born in Southampton County, which has some deep roots around the history of African Americans in our country and the history of African American resistance. All those things just made me into this curious person — my mother used to say nosy; but as an educator, I’ve redefined it as curious!”

Mayfield is part of the first cohort made up of teams representing 14 states and the District of Columbia. The selected administrators and educators received grants of $5,000 each to support their exploration of key questions concerning racial justice and other systemic issues. This 1619 Project Education Network cohort began in May 2023 and concluded in February 2024 with a conference hosted by the Pulitzer Center to celebrate the cohort’s work and consider how to build on it in 2025.

Mayfield’s project within the PEN cohort centered on creation of a professional learning series based on the children’s book Born on the Water. The goal is to support early childhood educators in their understanding of slavery using diverse resources that intersect with their families’ American origin stories. You will find Mayfield’s incredible project, Exploring Common Roots, on the 1619 Project website.

“In light of the increased focus on DEI over the past few years, educators are welcoming the chance to learn more about the challenges specific to African Americans and how those experiences intersect with their own children and families in their settings,” she said. Leaders in programs have requested opportunities to consider how cultural differences help and hinder team-building efforts and teacher collaboration.

For questions regarding Mayfield’s work surrounding the 1619 Project, please reach out to her at BMayfield@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Dr. Mia Harper, Associate Director of DEI, MHarper@nvcc.edu