The university established the African American Master Artists-in Residency Program (AAMARP) in 1977 with Chandler as its director. AAMARP’s mission was to provide awareness of the talent of African American artists and also those from other ethnicities. The program allowed budding African American artists to create works of art with unrestricted freedom. Northeastern was the first university in the country to provide an in-residence program to African American artists. The program became a success and renowned within the Boston community.