"I have a wonderful role to play here," shesaid.
William C. Kirby, chair of the historydepartment, noted Higginbotham's longstandingcommitment to the study of history at Harvard.
"Ever since she came to Harvard, ProfessorHigginbotham has worked closely with students fromour department," he said.
"We are extremely happy now to formalize thatrelationship," he added.
While she is quick to praise Kirby for "doing awonderful job building the department--especiallyon the American side," Higginbotham said she feelsthat African-American history has been largelyneglected in the department's academic program.
"There's a difference between teaching aboutrace and teaching history," she said. "There's asubstance and personality in history--a richlegacy of the African-American contribution tolearn about."
Higginbotham said she hopes to teach courses inAfrican-American history and women's issues in thedepartment, and she should be teaching historycourses by next semester.
"I am really honored to be part of the samedepartment as W.E.B. DuBois," she said. "I thinkhe'd be pleased."