Victor Oguejiofor Okafor

A photo of Victor Okafor

Department Head

Africology and African American Studies

620 Pray Harrold

734.487.3460

[email protected]

Education

  • Ph.D., Africology & African American Studies, Temple University, 1994
  • MPA, Public Affairs, concentrated in Development Management, Indiana University in Bloomington, 1988
  • BA, Journalism (Business minor), Indiana University, 1986

Interests and Expertise

Professor Victor Oguejiofor Okafor holds a Ph.D., Africology and African American Studies, Temple University, 1994; a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) with a concentration in Development Management, Indiana University in Bloomington, 1988; and a BA, Journalism (Business minor), Indiana University, 1986.

Dr. Victor Okafor is head of the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Eastern Michigan University. Author of five books, Okafor has also contributed chapters to several anthologies, and published a variety of scholarly articles in such refereed journals as the Western Journal of Black Studies, the Journal of Black Studies, Africa Update, and the Griot. Okafor's writings have appeared in national and international magazines and newspapers. He has presented papers at dozens of professional conferences, conventions, and meetings of student groups, as well as other groups.

Sponsored by Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE) for its “Teaching Comprehensive History Webinar Series,” in February 2023, Okafor presented a 3-part lecture to over 300 state of Michigan educators on “the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the 1950s to the 1960s.”

Okafor has been designing and teaching online courses since 1999. He is a certified Quality Matters (QM) Peer Reviewer of Online Course Designs. He has three certifications in the areas of (1) Online Course Designing and instruction, (2) application of Quality Matters (QM) Principles and Rubrics to Online Course Designs, and (3) Quality Matters (QM) Peer Reviewer of Online Course Designs.

Teaching both offline and online, Okafor’s overall teaching experience embraces courses on or related to: (i) The history of Black studies, (2) Theories, methods and methodologies in Black studies, (3) Black politics and public policy, (4) African civilization, (5) Multiculturalism, (6)    Afrocentricity.

Dr. Okafor has rendered services as a Journal Editor or a Journal/Book Manuscript reviewer for a variety of journal publications or book publishers, including the Canadian Journal of African Studies, Sage Publications, the Journal of Black Studies, and  Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Summit House, 170 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6BP, United Kingdom.

He has also served as an external reviewer of faculty applications for promotion & tenure at a number of US institutions.

Notably, in March, 2019, Okafor served as an invited co-external reviewer of the status and quality of a bachelor’s degree-awarding African and African American Studies at the University of Central Arkansas.

As a consultant on multicultural/diversity issues, Okafor serves as an expert court witness on cases related to African cultural questions and issues. For more than two decades, he has also served as a language interpreter on legal, corporate, medical and other matters requiring communications in Igbo language and translations between Igbo and English.

Before joining Eastern Michigan University in 1995, Okafor previously served as Interim director of African American studies and tenure-track assistant professor at North Carolina State University.

Publications and Presentations

Okafor’s Books & Book Chapters

1.      Okafor, Victor. (2023). Why Africology? A Critical Review of Debates about How to Name the Discipline. In A. Oyebade (Ed.), Transformations in Africana Studies: History, Theory, and Epistemology (pp. 30–44). New York: Routledge.

2.      Okafor, Victor. (2021). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (6th ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

3.      Okafor, Victor. (2017). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (5th ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

4.      Okafor, Victor. (2014). Development: Definitions, Trends and Controversies-- An Interrogation of Key Issues Related to Modern African Political Economy. In W. Idada & M.L. Rilwan (Eds.). Governance, Peace, and Security in Africa (pp. 212-228). Benin City: AMBIK PRESS.

5.      Okafor, Victor. (Ed.). (2013). Africana Studies Today: Essays on Scholarship and Pedagogy. New York: The Edwin Mellen Press.

6.      Okafor, Victor. (2013). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (4th ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

7.      Okafor, Victor. (2010). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (3rd ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

8.      Okafor, Victor. (Ed.). (2008). Nigeria’s Stumbling Democracy and its Implications for the Democratic Movement in Africa. Westport: Praeger Security International.

9.      Okafor, Victor. (2008). Malcolm X: An Apostle of Violence or an Advocate for Black Human Rights? In James L. Conyers, Jr. & A.P. Smallwood (Eds.), Malcolm X: A Historical Reader (pp. 215-226). Durban: Carolina Academic Press.

10.  Okafor, Victor. (2007). Towards an Africological Pedagogical Approach to African Civilization. In D. P. Aldridge & E. L. James (Eds.), Africana Studies: Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Paradigms (pp. 266-280). Washington: Washington State University Press.

11.  Okafor, Victor. (2006). A Roadmap for Understanding African Politics: Leadership and Political Integration in Nigeria. New York: Rutledge.

12.  Okafor, Victor. (2006). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (2nd ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

13.  Okafor, V.O., & Adeleke, T. (Eds.). (2006). Studies in African American Leadership: Individuals, Movements, and Committees. New York: The Edwin Mellen Press.

14.  Okafor, Victor. (2004). Rebuilding Continental-Diaspora African Relations: An Examination of Path-Breaking Trends in Governmental, Pan-African and Educational Linkages. In T. Adeleke (Ed.), Critical Perspectives on Historical and Contemporary Issues About Africa and Black America (pp. 139-166). Lewiston: The Edwin Mellon Press, 2004.

15.  Okafor, Victor. (2002). Towards an Understanding of Africology. (1st ed.). Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt.

16.  Okafor, Victor. (1999). Africology and the Academy: Essential Texts, Concepts, Methods & New Controversies. In J. Conyers, Jr. & A. Barnett (Eds.), Africana History, Culture, and Social Policy (pp. 327-348). Lanham: International Scholars Publications.

17.  Okafor, Oguejiofor Victor. (1998). the Functional Implications of Afrocentrism. In J. Hamlet (Ed.), Afrocentric Visions: Studies in Culture and Communication. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

18.  Okafor, Oguejiofor Victor., & Tella, A. Sheriffden. (1998). Economic Development & the Prospects for Economic Security in Africa. In A. Oyebade & A. Alao (Eds.), Africa after the Cold War: The Changing Perspectives on Security (pp. 17-42). Trenton: Africa World Press.

19.  Okafor, Victor. (1997). Afrocentrism and A New World Order. In N. BaNIkongo (Ed.), Leading Essays in Afro-American Studies (pp. 667-684). Durham:  Carolina Academic Press.

Okafor’s Journal & Other publications

1.      Okafor, Victor. (2024, May 8). A soundly-argued Open Letter. Heart of Arts. https://heartofarts.org/a-soundly-argued-open-letter/.

2.      Okafor, Victor. (2024, May 1). Controversial Rights, Natural Law & the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Heart of Arts. Controversial Rights, Natural Law & the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (heartofarts.org).

3.      Okafor, Victor. (2024, March 22). Democracy is the Key to Africa's Social Transformation. Heart of Arts. https://heartofarts.org/democracy-is-the-key-to-africas-social-transformation/.

4.      Okafor, Victor. (2018, Fall). The Passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela:

The End of a Revolutionary Chapter in African History. Africa Update, XXV (4). (https://www2.ccsu.edu/africaupdate/?article=356).

5.      Okafor, Victor. (2015, June). Racism, White Supremacism & the Tragedy at Charleston, South Carolina: President Barack Obama Hit the Nail in the Head. [email protected]. (https://mail.emich.edu/zimbra/h/search?si=21&so=0&sc=52368&sfi=2&st=message&id=304659&action=view).

6.      Okafor, Victor. (2015, March). Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, et al.: A Survey of Emergent Grassroots Protests & Public Perceptions of Justice. The Journal of Pan African Studies. vol. 7 (8), 43-63. (http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol7no8/7.10-8-4-Victor.pdf).

7.     Okafor, Victor. (2014, March). Africology, Black Studies, African American Studies, Africana Studies, or African World Studies? What's So Important about a Given Name? The Journal of Pan African Studies. vol. 6 (7), 209-224. (http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol6no7/6.7-9Okafor.pdf).

8.     Okafor, Victor. (2007, Fall). Nigeria’s Disputed Elections: Symptoms of a National Malaise. Africa Update, Vol. XIV, Issue 4. (http://www.ccsu.edu/Afstudy/upd14-4.html#National%20Malaise).

9.     Okafor, Victor. (Ed.). (2007, Fall). Nigerian Politics and Society. Africa Update, Vol. XIV, Issue 4. (http://www.ccsu.edu/Afstudy/upd14-4.html#National%20Malaise).

10.  Okafor, Victor. (2007, Summer). Nigeria’s Census Jinx: Is there a Way Out. Africa Update, XIV (3). (http://www.ccsu.edu/Afstudy/upd143.html#Nigeria%E2%80%99s_Census_Jinx:_Is_there_a_way_out).

11.  Okafor, Victor. (Ed.). (2007, January). Sustaining Black Studies: A Special Edition of the Journal of Black Studies, 37 (3).

12.  Okafor, Victor. (2007, January). Shortcomings in Wilson’s Chronicle of Higher Education Article on the State of Black Studies Programs. Journal of Black Studies, 37 (3), 335-347.

13.  Okafor, Victor. (2006, Spring). The Paris Club Deal: Reason to Celebrate? Africa Update, XIII (1). (http://www.ccsu.edu/afstudy/upd13-2.html#The_Paris_Club_Deal_).

14.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, Fall). Nigeria’s electoral challenge: what is to blame, the ballot box or political culture? Africa Update, XII (4). (http://www.ccsu.edu/Afstudy/upd12-4.html#toc).

15.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, October 28). The Paris Club Deal: Reason to celebrate or reason to cry for Nigeria? USA/Africa Dialogue, no. 1284. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa).

16.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, September 19). Nigeria’s electoral challenge: what is to blame, the ballot box or the political culture? USA/Africa Dialogue, no. 1160. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa).

17.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, September 11). Concerns about non-Ratification of the UN Convention against corruption: OBJ is right on the mark. USA/Africa Dialogue, no. 1117. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa).

18.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, September 5). The Tragedy of Katrina and the Reflections of a one-time war refugee. USA/Africa Dialogue, No. 1072. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/Africa).

19.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, August 31). On the Rule of Law or the Lack of it in Nigeria. USA/Africa Dialogue, no. 1060. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/Africa).

20.  Okafor, Victor, et al. (2005, May 27). The Present and Future of Black Studies. The Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A47.

21.  Okafor, Victor. (2005, April 25). Shortcomings in Wilson’s Chronicle of Higher Education’s Article on the state of Black Studies programs. USA/Africa Dialogue, no. 643. (http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/Africa).

22.  Okafor, Victor. (2000, January 21). America Still Haunted by Ghosts of Slavery, Fascism. EASTERN ECHO, pp. 3 & 4.

23.  Okafor, Victor. (1997, January). Towards An Africological Pedagogical Approach to African Civilization. Journal of Black Studies, 27, (3), 299-317.

24.  Okafor, Victor. (1996). Towards an Africological Pedagogical Approach to African Civilization. The Western Journal of Black Studies, 20, (3), 125-133.

25.  Okafor, Victor. (1996). the Place of Africalogy in the University Curriculum. Journal of Black Studies, 26 (6), 688-712.

26.  Okafor, Victor. (1996, spring). Towards an Understanding of the Afrocentric Conceptual Paradigm. The Griot, 15 (1), 44-54.

27.  Okafor, Victor. (1994, Winter). The Functional Implications of Afro centrism. Western Journal of Black Studies, 18 (4), 185-194.

28.   Okafor, Victor. (1993, December). An Afrocentric Critique of Appiah’s in My Father’s House. Journal of Black Studies, 24 No (2), 196-212.

29.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, October 21). AT&T and the Monkey Palaver. Black Issues in Higher Education.

30.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, September 23). Let it Be Informed Debate. Black Issues in Higher Education, pp. 9 & 39.

31.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, December 31). Angola. The Philadelphia Tribune, pp. 1b-2b.

32.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, October). The Mass Media, the World Order & All that. Real News.

33.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, June 29). Can Nigeria Survive Babangida’s Scuttling of Democracy. The Philadelphia Tribune.

34.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, April 2). Afrocentric Theory & Practice: Going Beyond Facades. The Philadelphia Tribune.

35.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, February). Should Schools Teach Lifestyles? Real News.

36.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, Winter). Multi-culturalism in Education: Carter G. Woodson’s Miseducation of the Negro Revisited. The Western Journal of Black Studies, 16 (4), 207-213.

37.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, December 22). Where Was the O.A.U. when the Somalians needed it? The Philadelphia Tribune.

38.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, December 1). Hope for a New Moral Order under a New President. The Philadelphia Tribune.

39.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, November 18). What Have Blacks Gained from the New World Order? The Philadelphia Tribune.

40.   Okafor, Victor. (1992, October 30). Refocus On the Real Election Issues. The Philadelphia Tribune, p. 3-D.

41.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, September 8). The Black Man’s Oppression is Always Defeated by Truth. The Philadelphia Tribune.

42.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, July 31). A Day in the Life of a Youth in Nigeria. The Philadelphia Tribune.

43.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, June). Re-Evaluation of African Education: Woodson’s Miseducation of the Negro Re-Visited. Journal of Black Studies, 22 (4), 579-591.

44.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, May). The Symbolism of Rodney King. The Susquehanna Journal.

45.  Okafor, Victor. (1991, December). Diop and the African Origin of Civilization: An Afrocentric Analysis.” Journal of Black Studies, 22 (2), 252-268.

Okafor’s Research Paper/Digital Presentations

1.      Okafor, Victor. (2023, October 14). The imperative of a grounding in the visions of the founding fathers & mothers.” The 35ft Edition of the Annual Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

2.      Okafor, Victor. (2023, July 19). “Africology: a Model of Global Studies,” a paper presented at the Sixteenth Global Studies Conference held at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, July 19-21, 2023.

3.      Okafor, Victor. (2023, February 22). “The Civil Rights Movement in the United from the 1950s to the 1960s: ITS EVOLUTION INTO A BLACK POWER (EMPOWERMENT) MOVEMENT,” a zoom-based, hourlong webinar presentation to more than 300 state of Michigan educators, sponsored by Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE) for its “Teaching Comprehensive History Webinar Series” of February, 2023.

4.      Okafor, Victor. (2023, February 15). “The SOCIAL–PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF JIM CROW & a highlight of some of the key leaders of the Civil Rights Movement,” a Zoom-based, hourlong webinar presentation to more than 300 state of Michigan educators, sponsored by Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE) for its “Teaching Comprehensive History Webinar Series” of February, 2023.

5.      Okafor, Victor. (2023, February 8). “THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950s TO 1960s): The Catalysts,” a zoom-based, hourlong webinar presentation to more than 300 state of Michigan educators, sponsored by Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE) for its “Teaching Comprehensive History Webinar Series” of February, 2023.

6.      Okafor, Victor. (2021, October 15). “BUILDING A DISCIPLINE AND ITS PARADIGMATIC FRAMEWORK: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A COMMON NOMENCLATURE,” AN OCTOBER 15 PRESENTATION AT THE 2021 (33rd) EDITION OF THE Annual CHIEKH ANTA DIOP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

7.      Okafor, Victor. (2017, April 7). “Why Africology,” an invited plenary paper presentation at the 5th annual Africa Conference of Tennessee State University’s Department of History, Geography, Political Science & Africana Studies.

8.      Okafor, Victor. (2014, April). “Development: Definitions, Trends and Controversies an Interrogation of Key Issues Related to the modern African Political Economy,” A paper delivered at an international conference on Governance, Peace and Security in Africa held at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State of Nigeria.

9.      Okafor, Victor. (2013, March). “Black Studies, African American Studies, Africana Studies or Africology,” A paper delivered at the 2013 conference of the National Conference for Black Studies (NCBS) held in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

10.  Okafor, Victor. (2011, March). “The Global Context of Pedagogy and Research in African American and African Studies.” A paper delivered at the 2011 conference of the National Conference for Black Studies (NCBS) held in Columbus, Ohio. 

11.  Okafor, Victor. (2010, November). “The Significance and benefits of researching or teaching abroad.” A paper delivered as part of a panel discussion in observance of an “International Week,” sponsored by Eastern Michigan University’s Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center (FDC), Ypsilanti, Michigan.

12.  Okafor, Victor. (2010, November). “What Does Black Studies Mean?” A Panel Discussion held at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan on the theme of “the Emerging Black Studies Discipline: Academic & Professional Careers.” 

13.  Okafor, Victor. (2010, October). “The Global Context of Pedagogy & Research in African American & African Studies.” A Midwest Regional Comparative and International Education Society 2010 conference at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan on the theme of “Globalizing Curriculum across University Disciplines.”

14.  Okafor, Victor. (2009, September). "Africa & the Millennium Development Goals." A Public Forum on the Global Role of the United States, sponsored by the Political Science Department of Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

15.  Okafor, Victor. (2008, October). "Maat and the Kemetic Concepts of Governance and Justice: An Africa-centered theory of Leadership and Political Integration." 20th Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

16.         Okafor, Victor. (2008, February). "Carter G. Woodson & the Origins of Multiculturalism: How Woodson Viewed the Dominant Educational Paradigm of His Day." Keynote speech at celebration of the African American History Month at the Ann Arbor Veteran Healthcare System. The program was sponsored by the EEO Special Emphasis Federal Black Employee Program Committee.

17.         Okafor, Victor. (2007, November). Reviewed a Manuscript entitled, “South Africa and Nigeria Since 1960: From Liberation Diplomacy to Strategic Bilateralism, “for Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

18.         Okafor, Victor. (2005, September 30). Shortcomings in Wilson’s Chronicle of Higher Education’s article on the state of black studies programs. A paper presented at the 17th annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference in Philadelphia, Pa.

19.          Okafor, Victor. (2004, October 7). Political Integration in Nigeria: A Case Study of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Military & Civilian Leadership Records. A paper presented at an African Studies Conference organized by the departments of African Studies at Grand Valley State University and University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The conference took place at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401 from October 7 to 8, 2004.

20.         Okafor, Victor. (2004, January). Misconceptions about Africology. Invited Paper Presented at 2004 Colloquium Series of the African American Studies Program of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama.

21.         Okafor, Victor. (2003, January). Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day: A Moment for Assessment and Reflection on the Status of Universal Human Rights.” Paper Presented at the 2003 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr.’s National Holiday Celebration, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

22.         Okafor, Victor. (2002, February). Black Studies from 1968 to 2002: An Examination of Major Disciplinary Developments. A Paper Presented at the 2002 Convention of the Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc., San Antonio, Texas.

23.         Okafor, Victor. (2002, January). MLK Day: An Apt Moment for Assessing the Status of Human Rights. Paper Presented at the 2002 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr.’s National Holiday Celebration, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

24.         Okafor, Victor. (2001, January). Humanism as a unifying principle.” A paper presented at a day-long teach-in on terrorism at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan held on October 22, 2001. It was sponsored by seventeen campus organizations, including the Academic Affairs Committee on Curriculum Diversity and the Black Faculty and Staff Association.

25.         Okafor, Victor. (2001, January). The Civil Rights Movement & Race Relations in America: How Far-Reaching a Change Did it Bring About?” Jan. 15, 2001 MKL Holiday Commemoration at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

26.         Okafor, Victor. (2000, January). How Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reshaped 20th-Century America, with video documentary, “The Legacy of a Dream. Jan. 17, 2000 MKL Holiday Commemoration at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

27.         Okafor, Victor. (1999, January). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Social Change & the Search for a More Perfect Union. 1999 MKL Holiday Commemoration at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

28.         Okafor, Victor. (1998, January). Black Manhood in America: the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.” 1998 MKL Holiday Commemoration at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

29.         Okafor, Victor. (1997, March 1). The Challenge of 21st Century African American Leadership. A Paper Presented at the Fourth Annual Young African American Professionals Leadership Conference, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

30.         Okafor, Victor. (1996, October 11-13). Africology and the Academy: Essential Texts, Concepts, Methods, and New Controversies. A Paper Presented at the 8th Annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference of the Department of African American Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

31.         Okafor, Victor. (1996, October 3-6). African American Studies as a Model of an Integrative Discipline. A Paper Presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the Association for Integrative Studies held at Eastern Michigan University.

32.         Okafor, Victor. (1996, March 21-24). Towards An Africological Pedagogical Approach to African Civilization. A Paper Presented at the 29th Annual Conference of the African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA) in Columbus, OH.

33.         Okafor, Victor. (1996, February 15-17). African American Studies: A Post-Brown American Educational Revolution Now in Transition. A Paper Presented at the 1996 Convention of the Southern Conference on Afro-American Studies, Inc. in Tallahassee, FL.

34.         Okafor, Victor. (1995, October 13-16). Towards An Africological Pedagogical Approach to African Civilization. A Paper Presented at the 7th Annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference of the Department of African American Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

35.         Okafor, Victor. (1995, March 30-April 2). Towards An Understanding of the Afrocentric Conceptual Paradigm. A Paper Presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA) in Philadelphia, PA.

36.         Okafor, Victor. (1995, February 15-19). The Evolution and Mission of Africology in the Academy. A Paper presented at the 1995 Convention of the Southern Conference on Afro-American Studies in Baton Rouge, LA.

37.         Okafor, Victor. (1995, February 14). A Reflection on Black History Month. A Black history month lecture presented to the faculty and staff of NC State’s Agricultural Research Service.

38.         Okafor, Victor. (1994, November 16). The Current State of African American Studies in the Academy. A Presentation to the Faculty of the Division of Multidisciplinary Studies at NC State University, Raleigh, NC.

39.         Okafor, Victor. (1994, October 7). Pan-Africanism, Afrocentricity, and the African American Studies Nexus. 6th Annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference of the Dept. of African American Studies of Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.

40.         Okafor, Victor. (1994, April 9). The Implications of Philosophically Migrating Back to Africa: Africans & A New World Order,” an Annual Symposium organized by the African American Heritage Society and the African American Cultural Center of NCSU, Raleigh, NC.

41.         Okafor, Victor. (1994, April 6). The Mission of African American Studies. A Program Sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. of NCSU, Raleigh, NC.

42.         Okafor, Victor. (1993, October). An Afrocentric Examination of Africa’s Political Economy,” the 4th annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference of the Department of African American Studies of Temple University.

43.         Okafor, Victor. (1992, January). Economic development in Africa. A Conference on Africa at Penn State’s Delaware Valley Campus.

44.         Okafor, Victor. (1992, March). Ancient Egyptian Philosophy: An Investigation. An Annual Conference of the Graduate Students of Temple’s African American Studies Department.

45.         Okafor, Victor. (1991, June). An Afrocentric Examination of Carter G. Woodson’s The Miseducation of the Negro on the Basis of the paradigmatic framework for African American Social and Political Thought,” A Temple University’s Conference on Strategies for Teaching African American Students.

46.         Okafor, Victor. (1990, October). The Problem of Political Instability in Nigeria & the Necessity for an Afrocentric Worldview. An Annual Conference of Temple’s Department of African American Studies.

Okafor’s Non-Paper Presentations

1.      Okafor, Victor. (2012, October 3). Made an invited Presentation on “Conflict Mediation in Nigeria” at the Washtenaw County’s Dispute Mediation Center, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

2.      Okafor, Victor. (2010, September 16). Made an invited Presentation on “What’s Like to be a Non-Tenure Faculty Member?” at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Campus. Presentation was Co-sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School and the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT).

3.      Okafor, Victor. (2008, October 31). Gave a lecture to Beacon Village Residence on the Origins and mission of African American Studies. Presentation was sponsored EMU’s marketing unit.

4.      Okafor, Victor. (2008, October 8). Presented Plans for Improving the Visual Currency of My two online courses to an EMU Technovations Forum. Presentation was sponsored by eFellowship program of Eastern Michigan University.

5.       Okafor, Victor. (2008, June 11). Gave a presentation to visiting High School students on the intellectual and career values of African American Studies. Presentation was sponsored by the Ohio Regional Recruiter of Eastern Michigan University’s Admissions Office.

6.      Okafor, Victor. (2008, January). Participated in a panel discussion of “Little Rock Central,” organized to mark EMU’s Observation of the MLK National Holiday.

7.      Okafor, Victor. (2003, October). “Victor Okafor, Professor of African American Studies, presents an Overview of and Reactions to his most recent publication, Towards an Understanding of Africology, published by Kendall/Hunt.” A Presentation organized and sponsored by EMU’s Diversity in the Curriculum Program.

8.      Okafor, Victor. (2000, February 22). What An African American Studies Degree Can Do for Me. A panel discussion organized by EMU’s Multicultural Center, Ypsilanti, MI.

9.      Okafor, Victor. (1999, November 16). African American Studies 101. A panel discussion organized by Best’s Residential Hall of EMU, Ypsilanti, MI.

10.  Okafor, Victor. (1997, March 12). Ebonics. A Panel Discussion sponsored by the Faculty Center for Instructional Excellence (FCIE), EMU, Ypsilanti, MI, March 12, 1997. (I provided a historical overview of the evolution of Ebonics).

11.  Okafor, Victor. (1997, January 20). Teaching What You’re Not. A Panel Book Review & Discussion sponsored by the Faculty Center for Instructional Excellence (FCIE), EMU, Ypsilanti, MI, Dec.4, 1996 & Jan. 20, 1997. The panel of faculty, which met twice, discussed Katherine Mayberry’s Teaching What You’re Not: Identity Politics in Higher Education. New York: New York University Press, 1996.

12.  Okafor, Victor. (1996, January 12). Multiculturalism Without Hierarchy. Jan. 29, 1996 edition of the “Fireside Chat” series of the Mckenny Program’s Office of EMU, Ypsilanti, MI.

13.  Okafor, Victor. (1995, November 27). African American Studies: Content, Pedagogy and Challenges. A Panel Discussion sponsored by the Faculty Center for Instructional Excellence (FCIE), EMU, Ypsilanti, MI.

14.  Okafor, Victor. (1995, November 1). Pan-Africanism. A Lecture Presented to Members of the Student Organization of African American Unity Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

15.  Okafor, Victor. (1994, October 21). Black Culture Centers and the Politics of Multiculturalism. A Conference of the Southeast Region of the Association of Black Culture Centers at NCSU, Raleigh, NC.

16.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, April 30). The Political & Economic Problems of Africa. A panel discussion sponsored by the Organization of African Students at Temple University.

17.  Okafor, Victor. (1993, February 9). A Day of Pan-Africanism. A panel discussion sponsored by the African American Student Union of Temple University.

18.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, December 1). What Africa Means to Me. A panel discussion sponsored by the African & African American Student Organizations at Temple University.

19.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, December 1). Afrocentricity Within the Black Community. A panel discussion sponsored by Temple University’s Delta Sigma Theta Society.

20.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, February). Africa & the African Diaspora in America,” a panel discussion sponsored by the Black Student League of the Delaware Valley Campus of Penn State.

21.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, February). The Significance of the Black History Month for Africans & African Americans. A presentation to students of Jones’ Residence Hall of Temple University.

22.  Okafor, Victor. (1992, March). The Haitian Crisis. An Analysis presented to Temple Students at the invitation of the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness.

Grants, Honors and Awards

  • Distinguished Scholar Award For Outstanding Scholarship, Teaching and Service in Africana Studies from the 5th Annual Africa Conference sponsored and hosted by the Department of History, Geography, Political Science and Africana Studies of Tennessee State University, 2017.
  • Appointed as a Great Michigan Read Scholar by Michigan's Humanities Council, 2017–18.
  • Named and recognized as "a Most Valuable Professor" by Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team, Winter, 2014.

Additional Information