Department Head

Professor & Head of African American studies
Ph.D. in African American Studies, Temple University, 1994
M.P.A. in Public Affairs, Indiana
University in Bloomington, 1988
B.A. in Journalism (Major) & Business (Minor)
Indiana University, 1986

RESEARCH, TEACHING & SERVICE KEYNOTES:

• Dr. Okafor's research and publications have centered upon such themes as the History of Black Studies, Theories, Methods, & Methodologies in Black Studies, Black Politics & Public Policy, African Civilization, Multiculturalism, and Afrocentricity/Afrocentrism.
• Dr. Okafor designs and teaches online courses.
• Dr. Okafor serves as an expert court witness on African cultural issues.
• Dr. Okafor also serves as a nation-wide Igbo language line interpreter.
• Dr. Okafor is available as a consultant on Africa-bound Student Travel Abroad matters.
• Dr. Okafor is available as a consultant on diversity curricular matters.

Dr. Okafor is the author of four books: Towards an Understanding of Africology (2010, 2006 & 2002 editions), a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in Black Studies, A Roadmap for Understanding African Politics: Leadership and Political Integration in Nigeria (2006), Studies in African American Leadership: Movements and Committees (2006), which he co-edited with Tunde Adeleke, and Nigeria's Stumbling Democracy and its Implications for the Democratic Movement in Africa (2008). He has also contributed chapters to a number of anthologies. In addition, Dr. Okafor has published several scholarly articles in such refereed journals as The Western Journal of Black Studies, The Journal of Black Studies, Africa Update, and The Griot. Dr. Okafor's writings have appeared in national magazines and newspapers. He has presented papers at dozens of professional conferences, conventions, and meetings of student and other groups. Dr. Okafor formerly served as Director of African American Studies and Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University.

Professor of African American Studies.
Professor Woods studied J.D. Law, University of Michigan, 1974
M.A. History, University of Michigan, 1971
B.A. History, Wittenberg University, 1969

TEACHING & RESEARCH FOCUS:
African American Constitutional and Legal Studies; Civil Rights Law and Policy

Professor Woods formerly served as the first Head of the Department of African American Studies at EMU. Until recently, he also served as an Interim Department Head. He has also served as Michael O. Sawyer Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law and Politics at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, and a Legal Services Attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. Professor Woods previously was as Interim President of the Michigan Council of Black Studies and has been a consultant to school systems on various aspects of desegregation and diversity enhancement. He is on the Board of Directors of the African American Culture and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County, and is a consultant to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. From 2002-2004 Prof. Woods was the Director of Eastern Michigan Institute for the study of Children, Families and Communities. A member of the Board of Directors of Wittenberg University, he has lectured Internationally and has published articles on refugee policy in the horn of Africa and on African American vernacular english.

Professor of African American Studies
Director of the African American Center for Applied Research and Services (AACARS) and Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Ph.D. in Sociology , Wayne State University, 1978
M.A. Sociology, Bowling Green State University, 1965
B.A. Sociology (Major) & Psychology (Minor)
Bowling Green State University, 1959

TEACHING & RESEARCH FOCUS:
Race and Ethnic Relations, Black & Ethnic Studies, Studies of Black Family,
Race and Crime, and Black Images in Television.

Dr. Perry is a pioneer in Black and Ethnic Studies. He served as Department Head of African American Studies at Eastern Michigan University from 1997 to 2003. He spent 27 years at Bowling Green State University, serving as the Director of the Ethnic Studies Program for 10 years. He also served 17 years as the Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies. Dr. Perry has taught 18 undergraduate and 10 graduate courses and directed or consulted on many workshops. He has provided guidance for at least three dozen students seeking doctoral and masters degrees. His professional achievements include hundreds of publications, refereed journal articles, book chapters, chairmanship of professional sessions, and presentations and discussions of papers.

Melvin Peters Associate Professor of African American Studies
Ph.D. in American Literature, Michigan State University, 1978
M.A. in American Literature,Michigan State University, 1972
B.A. Double Major in English & Spanish, Marshal University, 1966

TEACHING & RESEARCH FOCUS: African American fiction, poetry, drama, folklore and music, as well as African literature, music, Caribbean poetry and music. Dr. Peters' research focuses on African American jazz, rap, & contemporary Diasporan poetry.

Professor Emeritus Clovis E. Semmes holds a Ph.D. in Sociology, Northwestern University, 1978
M.A., Sociology, University Of Illinois, Chicago, 1972
B.A. in Sociology, Northwestern University, 1971

TEACHING & RESEARCH FOCUS: Systemic Inequality, African American Institution & Social Processes, African American Popular & Expressive Culture (1865-1970s), Health Systems & Health Behavior, Alternative & Nonmedical Health Practices.

Professor Emeritus Semmes taught Social Context of African American Health, the African American Family, African American Social Movements, Urbanization and the African American community, Foundations of Knowledge in African American Studies, The African American Diaspora, Reserach seminar, Comparative Religious in the African American Diapora, Pedagogy, Perspective, and Practice in serving African American Communities, Introduction to Black Business Enterprises, From Vaudeville to Rhythm and Blues: African American Expressive Culture, 1990-1979, Researching Black Families, and Writing for African American Studies.

Adjunct Lecturers

Cassandra Turner

Dyann Logwood

Kwaku Nti

Kenyetta Jackson

Tenisha Howard

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