ICAN University
Educating the Keepers of African American History.
Who We Are
ICAN University is a virtual African American institution dedicated to advancing education, research, and leadership in African American community archives, archival studies, narrative practice, and Black galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (BGLAM). We prepare students to become cultural stewards who preserve, interpret, and share African American heritage with integrity and purpose.
"We empower students to preserve, interpret, and share African American heritage with integrity and purpose."
ICAN University was founded in the summer of 2025 by Dr. kYmberly Keeton, an African American art librarian, archivist, and educator with a passion for preserving cultural memory. After years of working within (BGLAM) institutions and traditional academia, Dr. Keeton observed a persistent lack of African American–centered courses, faculty representation, culturally relevant programming, and institutional support for Black students and scholars. The University will debut to the public in March 2026, Women's History Month.
Determined to change this narrative, she envisioned a university where African American history, archives, and cultural heritage would form the foundation of every program—not as an elective or a side focus, but as the core of academic life. From that vision, ICAN University emerged as a virtual institution designed to meet learners where they are, providing innovative, accessible, and culturally grounded education that empowers graduates to preserve and celebrate African American narratives for generations to come.
Join us in preserving African American memory and shaping the future of cultural heritage.
