Intergroup Relations Minor | Skidmore College

How do our identities and lived experiences shape how we see and relate to one another? Intergroup Relations (IGR) is about building awareness and facilitating conversations that help us move through a complex world together.

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Grounded in learning for social justice, our nationally recognized program was the first Intergroup Relations (IGR) minor established in the US. It remains one of the only fully developed IGR academic programs to deliver an intensive curriculum over a range of courses — helping students become confident leaders and change agents.

What will you learn?

In IGR, students grapple with identity, study systems of oppression, and explore dialogue as a tool for social justice. Through interactive courses, they connect what they study to real-life practice. A hallmark of the program is our capstone, in which IGR minors facilitate a semester-long dialogue experience with their peers.

Minor curriculum

Where will you go?

The IGR minor is applicable to any career path — from teaching to business, law, social work, and the arts. It is especially suited for careers that require communication across differences.

Career paths	Recent employers	Graduate schools and programs
Artist Communications strategist Community planner Educator Entrepreneur Equity and inclusivity strategist Lawyer Nonprofit coordinator Physician Social worker	Ascend Schools Catholic Migration Services Common Group (Social Impact Management Consulting Firm) CT Veterans Legal Center Ember Charter Schools for Mindful Education, Innovation, and Transformation Havas Global Communications Group LifeLong Medical Care uAspire National Nonprofit	Harvard Graduate School of Education Indiana University Masters of Peace Education Program, UPEACE New York University NYU Silver School of Social Work Teachers College, Columbia University University of Connecticut University of Michigan

Lisa Grady-Willis stands in her office with her arm resting on shelves that include many photos and books.

The heart of IGR

Get to know Program Director and Associate Teaching Professor Lisa Grady-Willis and find out how Intergroup Relations builds confidence, leadership, and meaningful growth.

Read the Q&A

Two people sit on the upper interior balcony level of an academic building, smiling and having a conversation.

Scientific, social, and self-reflective

For neuroscience major Kayla Melendez ’26, Skidmore IGR deepened her understanding of complex societal issues while helping her achieve just the right academic balance.

Read Kayla's story

Sarah Faude '09 stands outside with glasses, a black leather jacket, and colorful earrings with a brick building in the background and green grass.

Learn how to ‘plug in’

Independent nonprofit consultant Sarah Faude ’09 draws on her experiences in IGR and sociology and encourages students to think cyclically and flexibly about how they can make a difference.

Read Sarah's story

Alumni reflections

Three former Intergroup Relations students describe what stood out.

Teshika Hatch ’11

“Co-facilitating my own race dialogue course was unbelievably powerful. It is ultimately because of IGR that I am able to identify my own issues with my work in higher education and feel inspired to look further into how I can become a better social justice advocate."

Eric Moretti ’13

“For the past 10 years, I have worked as a high school Spanish teacher. Ensuring that students of all social identities feel represented in my classroom and curriculum is an exciting challenge. Although the job may become hectic, my IGR journey has fueled a desire within me to reverse the systemic inequalities I see within my sphere of influence and beyond.”

Amanda Gomez ’21

"I think IGR is foundational because it’s not just a social justice dialogue, it’s a tool in the human experience. Not often in academic spaces are people able to dig into social justice conversations and not forsake the love and grace needed to maintain it, and that’s what makes IGR so different.”

Faculty

Meet the creative, accomplished faculty who are here to support you.

Meet your professors

Contact Intergroup Relations

Office

Tisch Learning Center 205A
Phone: 518-580-5425

Program Director

Lisa Grady-Willis
Associate Teaching Professor of Intergroup Relations
lgradywi@skidmore.edu

Associate Director

Jennifer Mueller
Associate Professor of Sociology
jmueller@skidmore.edu

Administrative Assistant

Linda Santagato
lsantaga@skidmore.edu