The Center for the Study of Race, Inequality, and Politics, a research program housed within the Institution for Social and Policy Studies, emerged from the concern that even as de jure segregation and racial discrimination have been removed as official barriers to social mobility and "equal opportunity," race, racism, and persistent structural inequalities still frame and limit the interactions and lived experience of most Americans. The center offers both faculty and graduate student seminars; an annual public lecture; and a research and policy studies program, emphasizing graduate training and support. Faculty associated with the center encourage a comprehensive approach to the study of race, inequality, and politics, centering on dialogue, scholarship, the development of innovative policy initiatives, and attention to organizing activities. The center is dedicated to producing research on racial inequality, especially as it interacts with other systems of oppression, such as patriarchy, heterosexism, and class exploitation. The center is directed by Cathy Cohen, assistant professor of African American studies and political science, and Rogers Smith, professor of political science.