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Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197
University Information: 734.487.1849
Professor Robert Perry received an outstanding faculty plaque from the AAS Department Head during the department's honors convocation held on March 19, 2012. Presenting the plaque, Dr. Victor Okafor, DH, extolled Dr. Perry's long-standing and unweavering dedication and service to the department of African American Studies. He pointed out that in his service record, Dr. Perry places the interests of the department above his personal needs. Below is a picture of the award presentation. On the left is Dr. Perry, and on the right is Dr. Okafor.
The department of African American Studies recognized and honored several AAS majors and minors for their outstanding academic achievements at its honors convocation held at Halle library on Monday, March 19, 2012. Among them were graduating students, including a student who completed requirements for the graduate certificate in AAS. The group picture below includes the honorees.
For additional pictures of the event, visit AAS On Face Book.
Pictures of the Feb. 1, 2012 AAS Expert Panel Discussion on Barack Obama's presidency
Click to view a slide presentation of the photos:
Pictures of the 2012 AAS expert panel evaluation of Obama's presidency
You Tube's link for the Recent AAS academic presentation On the Causes and Consequences of Racism
This past October 20, 2011, the department of African American Studies, Eastern Michigan University presented an academic program on the causes and consequences of racism in observance of 2011 as a United Nations-proclaimed "International Year for People of African Descent." Featured speakers: Dr. Joe Feagin, Dr. Melvin Peters, Attorney Mark Fancher, Dr. Liza Cerroni-Long, Dr. Robert Perry, Dr. Ana Ferreira, Dr. Nora Martin, and Professor Ronald Woods. President Susan Martin and Dean Thomas Venner provided welcoming remarks, while Dr. Victor Okafor moderated the discussion. Below is the You Tube link for the video record of this event.
Racism: Causes and Consequences
AAS Students On the Dean's List
Three AAS majors are on the latest Dean's list of academically superior students. They are Brandon J. Britt, Lauryn S. Tidwell and Toccara L. Walker. Warm congratulations to these students for this well-deserved recognition!
Dr. Ferreira's latest journal publication
News just arrived about a new journal publication by Dr. Ana Ferreira, Assistant Professor of African American Studies. Her article, "a Critique of the United States of Africa and the Marxist Model" is contained in the latest edition of Africological Perspectives: Historical and Contemporary Analysis of Race and Africana Studies.
A student essay contest
Title of essay
"Barack Obama: a Critical Appraisal of the Journey of the first African American President of the United States"
Guideline
Write a 3-page and double-spaced essay on the above title, and submit it to Professor Victor Oguejiofor Okafor (vokafor@emich.edu) as an email attachment.
Due Date for submission of essay
January 20, 2012
Prizes
1st prize: $100.00
2nd prize: $75.00
3rd prize: $50.00
The essay prize winners will be announced on February 1, 2012 during the opening session of the expert panel evaluation of Barack Obama's presidency scheduled to take place that day at the Student Center Ballroom A. The winner of the first prize will be invited to read his/her essay to the audience. See more information below.
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"Barack Obama: a Critical Appraisal of the Journey of the first African American President of the United States"
--a Black History Month Expert Panel Discussion--
Presented by the Department of African American Studies, Eastern Michigan University
Keynote Speaker: Professor Molefi Kete Asante
Panelists: Ravi Perry, Gregg Barak, Ana Ferreira, Kenyetta Jackson, Mark Higbee, & Robert Perry
Moderator: Victor Okafor
Other Highlights
Winners of a student essay contest on Obama’s presidency to be announced!
Free refreshments available!
Date & Time
Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Ballroom A, Student Center, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
This event was organized by the department of African American Studies (DAAS) and jointly sponsored by DAAS and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. If you have any question, contact Professor Victor Oguejiofor Okafor, Department Head of African American Studies: vokafor@emich.edu/734-487-3460.
January 9, 2012
is
an
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
*“AWARENESS DAY”
at
Eastern Michigan University
WHERE: GROUND LEVEL OF EMU’s STUDENT CENTER
WHEN: MONDAY, January 9, 2012
TIME: 10am-3:30pm
Highlights
-3 Raffle Drawings and the winning tickets will receive:
*Academic Programs Offered
If you have questions, call 734-487-3460.
Source of Image: Courtesy of the Office of the UN Human Rights Commission
Come and take part in this enlightening panel discussion on ...
“The Causes and Consequences of Racism”
Video Message from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
SC Ballroom A, 2:15pm-3:30pm
******
SC Room 301, 3:45pm-5:00pm
******
SC Room 310b, 5:15pm-6:30pm
Society for African American Studies (SAAS) Meets on September 16, 2011
A meeting of EMU's Society for African American Studies (SAAS)is scheduled to take place on September 16, 2011 as from 5pm in Student Center Rm. 320. The society is primarily for EMU students who are majoring or minoring in African American Studies, as well as students who are enrolled in the certificate programs of the department of African American Studies, namely the undergraduate certificate in African Studies and the Graduate Certificate in African American Studies. Other categories of EMU students can join as ex-officio members. For questions, contact the President of the Society, Ms. Brianna Scott: bscott8@emich.edu
August 31, 2011 is
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
*“AWARENESS DAY”
WHERE: GROUND LEVEL OF EMU’s STUDENT CENTER
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011
TIME: 10am-2pm
Highlights
-3 Raffle Drawings and the winning tickets will receive:
*Academic Programs Offered:
If you have questions, call 734-487-3460.
Dr. Patrick Pieh, adjunct lecturer in AAS, is spending part of his summer in creative ways. As a volunteer, he is serving as a mentor to 4 students who are enrolled in EMU's 2011 Summer Incentive Program from July 6 to August 19, 2011. He reports that he meets with them weekly on campus (wednesdays) from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. Dr. Pieh recalls that this is a program that he supported when he worked full-time at EMU in the 1990s.
April 7, 2011 is
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
*“AWARENESS DAY”
WHERE: GROUND LEVEL OF EMU’s STUDENT CENTER
WHEN: THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011
TIME: 1pm-3pm
Highlights
*Academic Programs Offered:
If you have questions, call 734-487-3460.
Spring/Summer 2011 Internship Opportunity
Position Title: Intern, Great Michigan Read
Position Description: Assist the Program Officer in implementing the 2011-12 Great Michigan Read, a statewide reading program featuring a single work of Michigan literature. Duties include recruiting partner organizations (schools, libraries, museums, etc.), distributing program resources, and general program outreach and publicity. Additional opportunities (fund raising, program development and budgeting, public relations, content development, etc.) based on interest and ability.
Qualifications and Skills: Current upper-level undergraduate or graduate student in a humanities discipline. African American Studies major preferred. Superior time management skills, meticulous attention to detail. Strong computer skills, including Excel. Desire to gain experience in the fields of public history and cultural nonprofit administration.
Time Commitment: Flexible, but at least ten hours per week for a minimum of ten weeks.
Compensation: This is an unpaid position, though college credit may be arranged depending upon student’s institutional requirements.
How to Apply: Submit cover letter, one letter of reference, and resume/CV to Program Officer Gregory Parker (gparker@mihumanities.org).
El-Ra Adair Radney Presents at EMU's Graduate Fair
Mr. El-Ra Adair Radney, a student of the Graduate Certificate in African American Studies, presented a paper at the recent Graduate Fair held at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan on Monday, March 21, 2011. He presented on the topic of "Memory Replacement: The Manchurian Candidates of African American and African Societies." Dr. Okafor sponsored his research presentation.
Okafor & Monteiro-Ferreira Presented Papers at the 35th Annual Conference of the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS)
Professor Victor Oguejiofor Okafor and Assistant Professor Ana Monteiro-Ferreira presented papers at the recent 35th Annual Conference of the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), held in Cincinnati, Ohio from March 16 to 20, 2011. Okafor presented on the topic of "the Global Context of Pedagogy and Research in African American and African Studies." Monteiro-Ferreira delivered a paper on "Africology in the Demise of the Inhuman Condition."
AAS Grad Student El-Ra Adair Radney Receives an NCBS Student Essay Contest Award
Mr. El-Ra Adair Radney, a student of the Graduate Certificate in African American Studies, received the 2nd prize for the 2011 NCBS Student Essay Contest (Graduate Division). He was honored at a Student Essay Awards Luncheon, held March 18, 2011. He received an award plaque and a check for $350. Radney gave a brief but well-received summary of his essay. Congratulations!
*THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT"
On the right is a picture of the panelists at the February 9, 2011 appraisal of President Obama's tenure. The discussion was held at EMU's Student Center Ballroom B
An interdisciplinary panel of scholars organized by the department of African American Studies appraised the tenure of President Barack Obama on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. Featured panelists included Robert Perry, professor of African American Studies; Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, a professor of leadership and counseling; Ronald Woods, professor of African American Studies; Edward Sidlow, professor of political science; Mark Higbee, professor of history; Ana Monteiro-Ferreira, assistant professor of African American Studies; Patrick Pieh, an adjunct lecturer in African-American studies; and Ravi Perry, assistant professor of government at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Professor Victor Okafor, head of the department of African American Studies, moderated the event. Okafor described the discussion as lively, thoughtful, balanced and fair-minded..
Two winners of the student essay contest on Obama's presidency were announced. Arlo Walsman, a junior from Chicago, won $100 for his essay, "My Assessment of the Performance of Barack Obama's Presidency." The second place winner, graduate assistant El-Ra Radney of Detroit, won $75.
EMU's Provost and Executive Vice President Jack Kay greeted the occasion with his remarks.Kay said there’s been a lot that’s happened in Obama’s presidency so far that has impressed him. “Presidency is an awesome job,” Kay said. “I’ve always been infatuated with it. Presidency is something that deserves great scrutiny and also great praise. It becomes incumbent on us to sit and talk.” View Provost Jack Kay's welcome remarks.
Eastern Michigan University's Diversion Dance Troupe performed at the opening, and the event generated a good number of LBC credits.
Ms. Aissa Wandarama Wins a Winter Undergrad Fellowship
Ms. Aissa Laouan Wandarama, a student of this department's Undergraduate Certificate in African Studies, has just been awarded a Winter 2011 Undergrad Fellowship in the amount of $2,000.
Professor Okafor Presents on Role of Being a Successful Department Head
Professor Victor Oguejiofor Okafor was one of 3 EMU Department Heads who made an invited presentation on Monday, December 13, 2010 on the topic of "What's My Job -- Perspectives on Being a Successful Department Head/School Director at EMU" to a meeting attended by EMU's Provost, Deans, DHs, Program Directors, and the leadership of EMU-AAUP.
Dr. Ferreira Presents a Paper at an International Conference
Dr. Ana Monteiro-Ferreira, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, presented a research paper, "Public Intellectuals for a More Human Humanity: the Afrocentric Idea," at an international conference held at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portuguese Catholic University) in Lisbon, Portugal on November 12, 2010. The theme of the conference was "Intellectual Topographies and the Making of Citizenship." Please, join me in extending warm congratulations to Dr. Ferreira for her international conference research paper presentation.
African Studies Certificate Student Awarded an Undergraduate Symposium Scholarship
Ms. Aissa Laouan Wandarama, a current student of the African Studies Certificate of the Department of African American Studies, is one of the recipients of this year's Undergraduate Symposium scholarships. They were honored at a "Celebration of Student Success" held this past Friday, September 26, 2010. This is the first undergraduate symposium scholarship to be received by an AAS/AS undergraduate student. It will be recalled that Ms. Aissa Laouan Wandarama was one of the 3 students who were sponsored for undergraduate symposium presentations this past March, 2010 by Dr. Victor Okafor, professor and department head. Hearty congratulations to Ms. Wandarama who was awarded the Bruce K. Nelson Scholarship!
This must be seen as an inspiration by all of our students.
speaker, poet, activist, writer and educator
Wednesday, September 29
12:00—1:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Holman Success Center, Department of African American Studies and Diversity & Community Involvement
Dr. Okafor was recently profiled in Huron Valley Publishing Solutions' Course Notes. Read his views on designing online and blended courses.
Eastern Michigan University kicked off this year's black history month on February 1, 2010 with a well-attended panel discussion that evaluated President Barack Obama's performance after being in office for one year. Organized and sponsored by the department of African American Studies, the discussion featured a cross-disciplinary set of scholars: Drs. Ravi Perry, Heather Neff, Melvin Peters, Mark Higbee, Liza Cerroni-Long, Abdullah A. Dewan, and Professor Ron Woods. It was moderated by Dr. Victor O. Okafor, Department Head of AAS. Light refreshment was served, and Diversion Dance Troupe performed at the opening session. More than one hundred and thirteen persons attended the event, and 53 students claimed learning beyond the classroom credit. The discussion was held in the Grand Ballroom B of the Student Center. Log on to iTunesU and click on Black History Month for a podcast of the panel discussion.