African Studies Program - University of Pittsburgh · Africans are notoriously religious, and...
Transcript of African Studies Program - University of Pittsburgh · Africans are notoriously religious, and...
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and graduate certificates in African Studies
will be presented to deserving students who
have fulfilled the necessary requirements.
All in all, we have had another strong and
productive year.
As we strive to achieve our mission of
excellence in African Studies, we hope we
can continue to count on the support of
Africanist faculty and students for our
activities and programs. Please stay in touch
by visiting our website
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/ or by
stopping by our offices at 4136/4137 Posvar
Hall, and looking out for our announcements.
Thanks for your support.
Joseph K. Adjaye
Professor and Director
Since its inception in 2001, the African
Studies Program (ASP) has been committed to
the interdisciplinary study of Africa. Courses
taught by its faculty at Oakland and the
regional campuses promote a greater
understanding and appreciation of the
continent and its peoples within the wider
world. A number of ASP faculty also provide
various consultancy services in the US and
Africa, while our outreach program to schools,
community and service organizations help off-
campus individuals and groups gain a better
understanding of Africa.
Now in its third and final year, the
Undergraduate International Studies and
Foreign Language (UISFL) grant has been a
significant boost to several aspects of African
Studies development including providing
course development grants for faculty,
expanding study abroad initiatives, and
supporting ongoing programmatic activities
such as an annual spring symposium and
foreign guest
speakers. In this
respect, we were
able in the past
year to support
international
visiting speakers
Tompson
Makahamadze (Zimbabwe), Bishop Benson
Bagonza (Tanzania), and Joshua Kivuva
(Kenya). The symposium, ―Haiti, An
Agonized Nation: Which Way Forward,‖ was
singularly successful.
Our long-established tradition of developing
study abroad programs continued with two
Fulbright-Hays grants that supported a
curriculum project for area teachers in Ghana
(summer 2009) and a second that will fund
an intensive Swahili immersion program in
Tanzania for students this June-July.
We are happy to announce that at our award
ceremony on April 9, 2010, 24 undergraduate
From the Director
Contents
From the Associate Director I am very pleased to welcome you all to our
first newsletter ever since the establishment of
ASP at the University of Pittsburgh. ASP has
achieved remarkable progress since its
inception. The 9th Annual Recognition
Reception and the launching of this newsletter
are milestones we are very proud to share
with you. We have witnessed tremendous
expansion in terms of student enrollments in
the graduate and undergraduate certificate
programs, the number of students participating
in study abroad programs in Africa, and the
wide variety of activities that enable students
and faculty to engage in conversations about
the continent. These include: (1) Good
Afternoon Africa lecture series, (2) African
Film series, (3) African Studies Annual
Symposium, and (4) the Annual African
Festival. The activities are designed to help
the program achieve prominence for fostering
the production of innovative scholarships, the
training of African specialists, and the
development of
new ways of
thinking about the
African world. We
will continue to
strengthen our
involvement in the
continent through
study abroad
opportunities for students, partnerships with
African institutions, and through promoting
cooperative approaches that will serve to
increase international understanding. We
appreciate the continued support of each and
everyone interested in African Studies and
we thank you all for your participation in
promoting African studies on campus and
beyond. And most of all, I wish to
congratulate the staff of African Studies for
their hard work and commitment to the
program and ensuring a successful year under
the apt leadership of the Project Director. I
especially acknowledge Ms. Sandra
Matoushaya our Administrative Assistant
who has worked extremely hard to put
together this newsletter and ensure that it was
ready for distribution at this event. Sandra
graduated from the Graduate School of
Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at
the University of Pittsburgh. She received her
Masters degree in International Development
and has been offered a position as the
Zimbabwe Partnership Coordinator for the
Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference.
We congratulate her for her new position but
we will surely miss her in African Studies
when she leaves at the end of April.
Macrina C. Lelei
Macrina C. Lelei Associate Director and Assistant Professor of
Education
Lectures by Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza ……………..…………...page 3
ASP receives the Global Academic Partnership (GAP) Grant……. …………..page 3
ASP receives the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Grant…….....page 3
Study Abroad
Swahili Language and Culture Immersion…….……………….………....page 4
Community Health in Tanzania ……………………………………...…..page 5
Pitt in Africa ……………………………………………….……………..page 6
Teachers in Ghana ………………………….………………………….....page 6
Moses Katende, 2009-10 H.J Heinz Fellow…………………………………...page 5
From old to new– ASP Launches a new website …………………………..…page 7
ASP is pleased to announce two new Africanist Faculty……... .page 7
Mpho Letima, 2009-10 Carl Mamberg Fellow from Lesotho …page 7
ASP Alumni and Graduates 2010 ……..………………..page 8 and 9
Student Groups………... …………..………………………... page 10
A Year in Review…………...…………………………….….page 11
Student Spotlight …………...………………………………..page 12
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―This past
summer, I had
the opportunity to
travel to a village
in rural Kenya
called Enoosaen
to conduct
preliminary
research for my
doctoral
dissertation. I am
developing a
distance learning
model to be used
as a tool for
upper-primary
education and I
truly valued the
opportunity to
talk to teachers,
administrators,
and students
there. Reading
about education
in a context much
different from our
American way is
one thing; having
the chance to
travel and
experience it first-
hand is quite
another. I am
anxiously
anticipating my
trip back this
summer.‖
Robyn Bracco,
Kenya
Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson
Kalikawe Bagonza
Religion in Africa In December 2009 the ASP hosted the
Rt. Rev. Dr Benson Kalikawe
Bagonza, bishop of the Karagwe
Diocese in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania (ELCT). Africans
are notoriously religious, and societies
have their own religious systems with
a set of beliefs and practices. Religion
permeates into all the departments of
life, so it is not easy or possible to
isolate it. Africa is home to many
different religious traditions and the
study of religion in Africa is important
in building a better understanding of
African peoples, cultures, and
societiesin Africa.
While in Pittsburgh, the Bishop
presented two lectures. These were
―The Role of the Church in
Community Development in Africa‖
and ―Religion and Politics‖. Within
these two lectures the Bishop gave
continued reference to his experience
in Tanzania.
―The Problems facing a poor country
such as Tanzania are overwhelming.
Like in any society, these problems
affect members of any society in
different ways. Some problems touch
only certain groups, while others
pose a threat to everyone‖(Bagonza).
―Christian churches in Tanzania are
concerned with economic issues
because of the basic Christian
convictions about ethical values,
structures, and change. There are
more reasons for this involvement
given that churches participate in
economic development projects and
they ought to have a guiding
theology, which is contextual.
Conviction alone is not sufficient.
But also economic issues are
complex in nature and thus demand a
special theological attention in
analyzing their in-built deficiencies
and thereby providing an alternative
(s)‖ (Bagonza).
Bishop Bagonza earned a Master of
Sacred Theology (STM) from
Wartburg Theological Seminary in
Dubuque, Iowa, and a PhD in
Theology from the Lutheran School
of Theology at Chicago (Illinois),
with a focus on theology and
development. He has also done
extensive studies on African
theology, ethics and Dietrich
Bonhoeffer. Since his ordination in
1993, he has served with ELCT as
parish pastor, mission developer and
general secretary within the
Karagwe Area.
African Studies Program receives Global Academic Partnership
African Studies Program receives Fulbright-Hays Group Projects
Abroad (GPA) Short– Term Grant Award 2010
ASP is pleased to announce that it has received a Global Academic Partnership (GAP) grant from the Global Studies
Program, University Center for International Studies (UCIS), and the Office of the Provost at the University of
Pittsburgh. The grant will help ASP host an International Conference on ―Achieving Sustainable Development in
Africa‖ to be held in March 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh . This conference will be in collaboration with The
Ford Institute for Human Security, School of Education, Public Health, and the Graduate School of Public and
International Affairs (GSPIA). The aim is to bring together partners with a major focus on sustainable development in
research, policy and practice from universities, research centers and community based organizations to share their
mutual experiences and research regarding the constraints and opportunities for sustainable development in the areas
of: (1) Health and environmental sustainability; (2) Education improvement; (3) Gender equality and empowering
women; (4) Conflict mitigation and institutional governance. Participating institutions from African will be the Forum
for Africa Women’s Educationalist (FAWE), The University of Ghana, School of Public Health (SPH) and The
University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The conference will be an opportunity for an interdisciplinary discussion
of sustainable development that will also result in a useful publication which could be instrumental in moving Africa’s
Sustainable Development agenda forward.
ASP is pleased to announce that it has received funding under the FY 2010 Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
(GPA) program to conduct a six-week (4 Credit) ―Summer Study Abroad Program‖ in Tanzania. The program will
provide graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to learn Swahili language and culture through classroom
instruction and immersion in cultural activities, and service learning – where students will apply classroom learning to
the real world context. A total of 15 students from the University of Pittsburgh and from other institutions across the
United States will be selected to participate in the program. They will have a wonderful opportunity to acquire first-
hand experience of Tanzania, East Africa, as they study the local geography, history, environment, culture and other
areas of concentration. Credit for the course will be assigned and transferred to student’s home institution by the
University of Pittsburgh no later than August 31st, 2010.
For more information please contact Dr. Macrina C. Lelei, Associate Director, African Studies Program & GPA 2010
Project Director @ 412-648-2058: or by e-mail: [email protected]. Office 4137 WWPH or go to our website.
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/
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Swahili Language and Culture Immersion- Inaugural Group Summer 2009
The African Studies Program launched the
―Swahili Language and Culture Immersion‖ study abroad program last summer, June-
July 2009. The inaugural group comprised
5 students: Corinne Gibson, Nosakhere Griffin-El, Lowre B. May, Eliada Nwosu,
and Emily Perrotta who traveled to Tanzania under the leadership of Dr.
Macrina C. Lelei.
The four week study abroad program was
designed to offer students a variety of
learning activities such as Swahili language instruction, immersion activities, field trips
and excursions. The host institution for the program was Karagwe Secondary School
(KARASECO)- a co-educational boarding
school owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese. The
Swahili instructors were Mwalimu Joseph Kabalimu, the headmaster of the secondary
school and Rael Sospeter Kakulima, the
Swahili teacher. The local coordinator responsible for all activities including field
trips and excursions was Mr. Innocent
Teulas, a student at Ruaha University College in Tanzania. The driver was Mr.
Shadrack, the school driver. It was a great team that helped to make the program a
success.
The group travelled extensively within the
district of Karagwe and also visited the city of Bukoba. Students learned about the
culture and society, the history, geography
and language. In participating in all scheduled cultural activities students
developed a deeper, more critical cultural
immersion experience that included empathy—the ability to see things from
another point of view; critical reflection – an awareness of how one is informed by
one’s own culture and makes sense of
cultural differences subjectively. The
students appreciated having a local coordinator at all times who was very
helpful making them comfortable and helping them move with ease through the
community immersion activities. During the
evenings and other free times, students participated in group discussions, essay
writing, field reports and journal writing to
enhance their learning and reflection process. It was a transformative experience
for all who participated as evidenced in what the students said in their evaluation
survey forms:
―I felt like a new process of learning had
begun for me. I started to observe things from a different perspective. I felt a
dramatic change in the way I see a different
culture and try to learn the language. The language instruction sessions were
extremely insightful providing us with the
technical ―how-to‖ and a cultural ―why‖ which reinforced the relationship between
language and culture. I came out with a more clear understanding of both the
differences and similarities of the culture to
my own (E.P).
―I really enjoyed the cultural immersions which I think were a great opportunity to
know the community firsthand. I gained so
much from this experience! Since it was my first time in Africa, I did not know what to
expect. But I think learning the language,
living in the rural community, and participating in community activities
definitely gave me a new understanding.‖ (C.G)
―I was very blessed when speaking to the
members of the community involved in
progressive initiatives to move the community forward in development, and I
appreciated both hearing about their
experiences and seeing their work. I came to the trip asking the question of what does
development look like and these visits
helped to answer my question. I also enjoyed speaking to the Bishop as well as
visiting the farmer Bwana Boaz. From both, I received a realistic impression of the role
of institutions-such as those of faith-
in a community as well as life within
a community. The visit to Bwana Boaz’ farm was the most natural. It
illustrated the extent of wealth families have when they practice
farming. It is one thing to read about
development but another to see it firsthand.‖ (E.N)
―Cultural immersion has been an excellent aspect of this experience.
Having the opportunity to visit many facilities of Karagwe and other
neighboring cities has been very
informative, and has given me the opportunity to learn about Tanzanian
culture, language and the people. I am glad I was given the
opportunity.‖ (L.M)
The students in the program were
able to function successfully in a new
and different environment and under a different set of ground rules from
those they are used to in their own culture. They completed the program
requirements and received credit.
The next study abroad program in
Tanzania is scheduled for summer June 18– July 31 2010. Students will
have an added opportunity for field
research and service learning. Students interested in staying on to do
internships or further field research
on their own will have the opportunity to do so.
"Being an intern at the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in Benin last summer has been one of the most joyful and
rewarding internship experience I ever have had. People were so warm and valued so much my contributions to the strategic planning
process of the organization that I really felt I had been really useful. Praise God!" Joachim Boko, Benin
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Community Health in Tanzania
-term prerequisite 3-credit ANTH 1725 / AFRCNA 1725
course on East Africa. While in Tanzania, students will be
required to do ethnographic research in order to revise and rewrite this research paper using the in-country data
obtained during the program. This course will be taught by the Study Abroad program
director Dr. Linda Winkler and her program assistant, Ms.
Jessica Heathcote. This course presents an overview of African history and geography with the second half
focusing on East African issues.
Please contact Professor Linda Winkler at [email protected] or Jeff Whitehead at [email protected]
The African Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh at
Titusville, and the Study Abroad Office offer Pitt- in-Tanzania, a
four-week summer study program in which students spend four weeks in Karagwe District, Tanzania. This program is led by
Linda Winkler, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at the
University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.
This summer two students from the University’s Titusville campus (UPT), Estrellita Olvera and Molly Knapp who have
received the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Women in Global
Leadership, will be participating in the Community Health in Tanzania program.
Olvera, an anthropology major at UPT says, ―With the help of the VIH program, I am positive that I will gain valuable
knowledge and first-hand experiences that will enable me to
achieve my dream of becoming an anthropologist.‖ Knapp is majoring in pre-physical therapy at UPT. ―Studying
abroad in Tanzania will be a fulfilling experience. I will proudly reflect on this trip the rest of my life. It has always been a dream
of mine to travel to Africa and immerse myself in a completely
different culture and the VIH program is helping to realize this goal.‖
In July 2010, students will experience a cultural immersion in
rural area of Tanzania where they will learn about the community health and social programs of East Africa. The
local collaborators are various agencies in rural northwestern Tanzania including the Nyakahanga district hospital, the AIDS
control program, and numerous other NGOs. This program is
designed to expose students to a broad variety of topics related to health services, public health, issues related to the United
Nations Millennium Goals and international development in Africa. Students will be expected to keep daily journal entries
and will also be given reading assignments and journal topics
while in Tanzania. All students will have done an initial paper on a social or health issue in Tanzania during the required spring
Estrellita Olvera
Molly Knapp
Moses Katende, 2009-10 H.J Heinz Fellow
Moses Katende is from Mpigi, Uganda. He earned a Masters in Public Health Leadership from the Uganda Christian University in 2009. He is currently the H.J Heinz Fellow in
Public Health, and the Internships Program Coordinator, IISE. Moses has been a champion in the reduction of maternal and child deaths in Uganda. He has been involved in public
health related activities especially in the integration of the safe motherhood teaching into the
curriculum at the Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development. He is a real advocate for family planning and speaks out for responsible fatherhood as a core foundation for
healthy families. As a community health advocate, Moses has implemented programs in the
awareness of HIV/AIDS, malaria prevention, family planning services, and advocacy work in improving quality and access to health care facilities in Uganda.
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Pitt in Africa - Students in Africa Summer 2009
Morgan Kronk: Liberia
Research for Doctoral Jurisprudence
Adrienne Lester: Liberia
Research for Doctoral Jurisprudence
Julie Moore: South Africa
Caitlin Newman: Uganda
Employment
Eliada Nwosu: Tanzania
Swahili Language and Culture Immersion
Program
Mari Paz Ortega: Rwanda
United Nations Volunteer
Emily Perotta: Kenya and Tanzania
Swahili Language and Culture Immersion
Program and research
Austin Price: Cameroon
Public and International Affairs Internship
Sesi Aliu: Malawi
Student Leaders in International Medicine
(SLIM)
Joachim Boko: Benin
Public and International Affairs Internship
Robyn Bracco: Kenya
Preliminary research for doctoral dissertation
Erika Chowa: Zambia
Medical Internship
Camille Davidson:
Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania,
Zanzibar,
Zambia and Zimbabwe
Semester Abroad in South Africa
Kate Dickerson: Tanzania and Ghana
Amizade Volunteer
Nosakhere Giffen– EL: Kenya and Tanzania
Swahili Language and Culture Immersion
Program and research for doctoral dissertation
Rachael Hellman: Lesotho, South Africa
and Zambia
Study Abroad in South Africa
Phiona Kanabimanya: Uganda
Public and International Affairs Internship
Group of students that
presented their summer
abroad programs at the
African Festival 2009
with the ASP
Administrative
Assistant Sandra
Matoushaya
Pittsburgh teachers venture on a Cultural Journey in Ghana
Last summer in July 2009 Dr. Joseph Adjaye took 12 teachers from Western Pennsylvania to Ghana. This was a project conducted through the Fulbright-Hays Program administered by the U. S. Department of Education, which provides advanced overseas study
and research opportunities for teachers.
While in Ghana the teachers attended lectures conducted by authorities in geography, music, educational systems, literature and
cultural values. The group studied at the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast an KNUST, Kumasi. Participants also visited places of historic and cultural interest in Ghana including the Dubois Centre, Kwame Nkrumah Park, slave dungeons
and Kente-weaving and wood-carving centers. Above all, the trip was geared toward enabling each teacher to develop a specific
curricular project that they would integrate into their teaching after their return. They also spent some time in Ghanaian schools, which ranged from preschool to high school. Through this they were able to see the scarcity of resources and funding.
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From old to new– ASP launches a new website
On December 1, 2009 The African Studies Program launched its new website. The ASP wanted to create a website that was
simple, user friendly and immediately grabs attention as well as informing the browser about the program. ASP encourages
you to take the time to browse the website at http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/ for information on the program, events and student experiences.
ASP is pleased to announce two new Africanist Faculty
Pittsburgh, Dr. Covington-Ward teaches Introduction to
Africana Studies, Women of Africa and the African Diaspora,
Cultures of Africa, and looks forward to teaching other courses on performance in Africa.
Charles Jalloh
Charles Jalloh is an Assistant Professor of Law. He joined the University of
Pittsburgh School Of Law in July 2009.
His teaching and scholarly activities focus on International Criminal Law,
International Human Rights Law, Public International Law and Criminal
Law. He holds Common and Civil Law
degrees from McGill University, Canada. He also earned a Master’s in International Law, with distinction, at Oxford
University, U.K., where he was honored as a Chevening Scholar.
In 2007, he edited a book that is now a leading reference on the
legal texts of the Sierra Leone Tribunal. He has also authored or co-authored various scholarly works published in reputable
peer-reviewed journals and books. His current research seeks to
expose the growing tension between Africa and the International Criminal Court. The primary thrust is on
questions of selectivity and jurisdiction and their impact, if any, on the growth and legitimacy of international criminal law.
Professor Jalloh, who is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the
African Journal of Legal Studies, is a member of the American Society of International Law and the Canadian Council on
In addition to over 41 African Studies affiliated faculty, we
are pleased to announce two new members of faculty:
Yolanda Covington-Ward and Charles Jalloh.
Yolanda Covington-Ward
Yolanda Covington-Ward is an Assistant
Professor of Africana Studies. She joined the
University of Pittsburgh in September 2009. She is an anthropologist whose scholarly
interests revolve around performance, group identity, the embodiment of religion and
history, and everyday negotiations of power
and authority. Her dissertation, ―Embodied Histories, Danced Religions, and Performed Politics: Kongo Cultural
Performance and the Production of History and Authority‖ (2008) was based on a year of ethnographic
research in the Democratic Republic of Congo and six and a
half weeks of archival research in Belgium. Her study examines two types of embodied cultural
performances, makinu—Kongo dances—and bimpampa—
Kongo body gestures, to investigate changes and continuities from the late fifteenth century to the present in the ways that
the Kongo people both represent cultural memories and social values through cultural performances, and use these same
performances to create, confirm, and contest political and
religious authority. Dr. Covington-Ward is currently revising her dissertation for publication as a book. At the University of
Mpho Letima, 2009-10 Carl Malmberg Fellow from Lesotho
Mpho Letima is from Lesotho and is the 2009-2010 Carl Malmberg fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.
Her work at the University of Pittsburgh involves evaluating maternal health services for low income women.
She is involved in evaluating Culturally Responsive Arts Education in Pittsburgh Public Schools with
educational evaluators at Duquesne University. Mpho has a Masters in Educational Research and Evaluation
from the University of Botswana and has been a high school teacher and a lecturer at the National University
of Lesotho. She and a team of HIV/AIDS activists won a grant by the World Bank and USAID for the Paray
High School HIV/AIDS drama project. Students who were part of this project facilitated open
communication between, adults, the infected and affected and their peers, to break the silence that surrounds
issues of HIV/AIDS. Her goals include being a researcher and evaluator in educational, public health and
policy issues.
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2010 Graduates
Matthew Auflick, Joachim M Gbethoho Boko, Dawn Close, Ngalula Kapinga Trice Kabundi, Phiona K
Kanabimanya, Jana Melpolder, Josephine J Mills, Rosemary K Muliokela, Anne Marie Nagy, Eliada Nwosu,
Jeffrey Austin Price.
2010 Undergraduates
Paula Marie Cox, Miranda A Dore, Kathleen Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Mary E Griffith, Rachael E Hellman,
Jamillia Nyampu Kamara, Lynette M Miller, Johanna O Ojo, Abiola Nike Oke, Brendin Giuseppe Rogers, Carly
A Stasak, Raina Denise Warren, Negede T Yilma.
2009
Michelle Cocker, Nathan A. Emery, Christopher D Jones, Sandra M. Matoushaya, Justice Kofi Gbolonyo, Aaron
M. Arnold, Marcelius L. Braxton, Halima Buhari, Betty J. Busey, Brigid E. Cakouros, Megan E. Davis, Timothy
M. Dempsey, Redeate Dessalegn, Kathryn B. Dickerson, Sandra O. Dike, Joseph R. Enten, Melissa S. Estrada,
Ashley Green, Sharae J. Graham, Graham, Kathleen M. Henschel, Jaerhyn Rose Lowery, Kristie Dawn McVay,
Eleanor M. Ott, Emily E. Perrotta, Sarah T. Powell, Norman D. Richardson ,Nana Ama A. Sarfo, Alexandra C.
Teale, Lether C. Vavassoeur, Henry Clay Webster, Bezawith Y. Wossene.
2008
Rachel Ann Barron, Lauren Dobbin Brooke, Tara Constock-Green, Erika Chowa, Megan E. Davis, Marie Adia
Effiong, Molly, L Ferra, Laurel I Friend, Natasha Hoyte, Mary Beth Hutchinson, Sheila Eka Ema Isong,
Mamothena Carol Mothupi, Shawna, E McCallin, Abigail Owens, Latosha A Sanders, Jonathan, D Swank,
Jasmine Monique Woodson, Abigail L Owens.
2007
Tahir U Abdullah, Remi Yewande Ariyo, Autumn Renee Burgess, Kevin Edward Cox, Sara Paige Fatell ,Sheba
K Gittens, Michele Gwendolyn Greene, Patrick, L Kiprotich, Pamela K Kirkland, Susan P Maniwoski, Patrick
Jo Millord, Nicole A Rearick Emily E Trostel, Allison Tiffany Walker, Natia Lashae Williams, Pamela S Wint.
ASP Alums
ASP 2010 Certificate Recipients
"I thank God for the Medical Experience I gained while in Zambia. First of all, being ½ Zambian, I got to go back to my beauti-
ful and humble beginnings, reuniting with family I have not seen since I was a child. I traveled to Mwami SDA Hospital in
Northern Zambia where I scrubbed in surgeries of all sorts and helped set up temporary village clinics. Seeing the amount of
people that lined up every morning, really touched my heart and helped me realize the need of more health professionals in re-
mote parts of the world. While in Lusaka the capital city, I also had the opportunity of setting up my first ever Research Project
at the University Teaching Hospital looking at the correlates of Hypertension among Zambian women. I had a fabulous time,
while still learning a lot!!!" Erika Chowa, Zambia
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ASP Alumni Cont...
"I only spent a few days in Lesotho, but they were some of the best of my entire experience abroad. I felt at peace in the quiet and
simplicity. Away from the internet and cell phones and TV, I felt like I was living. I miss the mountains and the strength of the
sun. I miss the markets, musicians on train rides, and women singing inside bus stations. I miss the babies that I held at the
hospital where I volunteered and the kids I tutored at Baphumelele Children’s Home where I spent my Monday and Wednesday
afternoons. I have not forgotten what I saw on the ride through Khayelitsha township—the hundreds of shacks, the makeshift
barbershops, the people selling grilled corn outside. My experience in South Africa and the country itself is embedded in my soul.
Although I can never recreate my semester abroad, I hope to one day return. I think I need to." Rachael Hellman, South Africa,
Lesotho and Zambia
2006
Deborah E Allison, Chinyere Anyanwu, Leah Baldwin, Shanika Brown, Benjamin S Case, Hilery Farrell,
Kiley Jade Kunselman, Emily M Lovallo, Riedolia Monique Moore-Ellis, Erin Elizabeth Morgan, Rebecca
Ann Mrljak, Harlyn Jabbar Owens, Jamie Christine Pelusi, William J Schlachter, Katherine Emily Shuler,
Bahdua Sirleaf, Anna A Vitriol, Amanda M Wertz, Alison Todd West, Megan Wilcox, Laura C Yealy,
Meghan Elizabeth Young, Lesmarie A Singleton.
2005
Agnes Munaku Aboka, Amarty Daniel,Yemsrach Dessalegn, Jasmin N Dobson, Leah Anne Ghoston, David T
Gourley, Gary B Hudson, Charis Jones, Autumn Long, Kianga Mungai, Peter O Okemwa, Razwel R Reed,
Monique Rogers, Edward S Smith, Kharee H Staten, Jamal-Francis Tariq, Nickki Lee Weyant.
2004 Alums
Michelle Anita Agostini, Abolaji Awosogba, Bryan Bancrof, Paula Bell, Kate Bernic, LaChelle Green El-
londa, Tiffany Imani, Green David Brown, Bruce Q. Naquana, Brandon Cohen, Cole J Tabia, Carla Daniels,
Dehanna A Daughty, Angela K Davis, Daniel Feller, Holly Ann Fenner, Stephanie M Fernandez, Heather
Gadonniex, Allison Hahn, Kenneth B Henderson, Brandiese E. Jacobs, Raymond Merriweather, Shereena S
Morrow, Steven D Narumo, Christopher D Nolan, Johnson Oluwakemi, Inola Hector Pamphile, Nidirha D
Rogers, Sabrina Spipher, Athena Whiting, Ross Farrell.
2003 Alums
Nkaiso Akpabio, Rachel Brinson, Jeana Carlins, Raheem R Dawson, Michael Idiokitas Doe, Kelly Eleazer,
Jason Flint, Ayanna Christine Fortson, Danielle Hamner, Kierstin Homblette, Risi Marie Johnson, William
Edward Louey, Tendai Matambanadzo, Folasade Olowude, Josephine Mary Paolello, Meghan Rice, Shaunika
Robinson, Deshan Sewell, Michele Lynn Steenson, Altavese Terrill.
2002 Alum
Shanna Ardis, Stacey A Atkins, Ariel BenYishay, Selena M Brown, Jay H Dworin, Abimbola Fakinlade, An-
drea L Girvan, Jamel Idris, Courtney Martz, Mofoluwaso Olowude, Emmanuel Onosode, Samana Pamphile,
Keisha N Senior, Beth M Strittmatter, Tara N Turman, Shayna, J Watson, Jamel Idris, Courtney Martz.
10
Student Groups
Initiative for Sustainable African
Development (ISAD) formerly The
African Synergisitic Think Tank (ASTT)
When the Graduate School of Public and
International Affairs (GSPIA) announced
support for new student groups, it was a
golden opportunity for students to create
unique social forums. For ISAD, the new
student initiative fund would allow African
students to institutionalize a passion for
their homelands. ISAD was developed to
explore alternative approaches to African
development issues. It is one of the first
student groups at GSPIA to focus
exclusively on African topics.
As a group, ISAD hopes to focus on the
synergistic" aspect of participation; students
are encouraged to engage in discussions
about Africa by honing their own interests.
The group consists of a number of "PODS"
focused on particular policy areas including
the impact of the financial crisis on Africa,
the Millennium Development Goals,
governance, and post-conflict initiatives.
"As future policy leaders, it is important to
participate in policy dialogue," stated
Ngalula Kapinga Kabundi. "ISAD provides
an organized research venue to create and
present policy solutions for a key region."
Board members hope to share their cultural
ties with other GSPIA students. The group
hopes that the policy POD structure fosters
unique solutions to enduring problems in
Africa. GSPIA's diverse student body and
research tools could greatly add to the
creativity of policy proposals. "We can't
afford to be divisive in creating solutions,"
stated Rosemary Muliokela. "More insight
will lead to bigger and better solutions."
Policy proposals will
be presented and published throughout the
year.
African Student Organization (ASO)
ASO is an African Students Organization
based at the University of Pittsburgh's main
campus. ASO is comprised of Staff, faculty
and students of various ethnic backgrounds.
ASO is committed to creating and
maintaining a cohesive African community
in Pittsburgh and the surrounding regions as
well as organizing various forums to share
information about, and develop an
understanding of the economic, social and
political development needs of Africa
Student Leaders in International Medicine
(SLIM)
Our purpose is to foster interest in issues and
professions within the realms of international
medicine and global health. We hope to give
students a route to further their interest and
advance their education in such topcis
through networking and experiential
learning. The ultimate goal of "Student
Leaders in International Medicine" is to
progress and amplify the development of
health care professionals that are looking to
spread their knowledge beyond the borders
of the United States. Members of this
organization interact as family, helping one
another to achieve their own personal goals
in global health.
Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee
Growth and Empowerment (FORGE)
The purpose of FORGE is to advocate for
refugees and the poor. We have four
objectives. FORGE educates the University
of Pittsburgh community, the Pittsburgh
community and the nation about the
challenges facing these vulnerable
populations. FORGE members advocate for
solutions to refugee problems. FORGE
provides opportunities for refugees to
advocate for themselves by sharing refugee
artwork and messages with our community.
FORGE empowers both students and
refugees as agents of social change.
Keep it Real (KIR)
Our Mission: Keep It Real’s mission is to
provide quality, personal tutoring to support
the educational development and cultural
adjustment of refugee kids and their families
in the Pittsburgh communities.
Who We Are: KIR is a student-run volunteer
organization at the University of Pittsburgh
comprised of over 85 dedicated members, the
vast majority of which are undergraduates at
Pitt. Our tutors stretch across a range of
majors and backgrounds, but we all share an
enthusiasm that has earned us a reputation as
one of the most motivated, involved, and fun-
loving organizations on campus.
What we do: Afterschool tutoring at Arsenal
M.S. twice a week, in coordination with Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
Afterschool programming with MGR
Foundation's Murals program at Arsenal
M.S. once a week: cultivating
cooperation, conflict resolution, and
expression through art, music, drama, and
movement.
In-home tutoring for Somali Bantu
families in Lawrenceville.
Site-based tutoring for refugee kids in
Greentree.
Model African Union (AU)
The University of Pittsburgh is currently in
the process of organizing a simulation of
the Executive Council of the African
Union (AU), set to take place in late
March.
We are currently looking for students who
would be interested in serving as delegates
to this simulation. This is a great
opportunity to learn more about political
and social challenges facing Africa, and,
more importantly, possible solutions to
these problems. Delegates will also gain a
better understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of the African Union, and
the viewpoints of individual African
nations. As a delegate, you will be
participating in the first Model AU ever
held at Pitt. You will gain invaluable
experience in research and public
speaking, and participation in this event
will enhance any resume.
As a delegate, you will represent the
viewpoints of an AU member state. You
will discuss assigned topics with other
delegates, and work to develop a plausible,
effective resolution for each topic. If
desired, you may also work with a partner
at this simulation.
Please e-mail Scott Crawford at
[email protected] if you are interested in
participating or if you have any questions/
concerns. Also, you may request a specific
nation that you wish to represent. Once
again, this is a great opportunity, and we
hope to hear from you!
" Traveling to Tanzania as a student, allowed me to immerse myself in a way of life that was so different then what I am used to. What
inspired me and was most touching was how warm and beautiful the people were despite the adversity they face daily. My experience this
past summer is something I will remember and reflect on for the rest of my life." Kate Dickerson, Tanzania and Ghana
11
A Year in Review 2009-2010
September 2009 - Theme: “Education” Our theme this month was Education. We looked at education in Africa – challenges and opportunities as we
continued our conversation on improving African educational systems
Open House
Lecture: ―Robert Mugabe: An asset or liability for Zimbabwe‖ - Dr. Tompson Makahamadze
African festival
October 2009 - Theme: “Conflict” In October, we had to STOP, LISTEN, THINK and TALK about the causes of conflict, what has
been done in the past and gave suggestions and solutions towards bringing these conflicts to an
end.
African Film: Sarafina
November 2009 - Theme: “Culture” We focused on Culture and how it has affected societies in Africa as well as how it is reshaping the future.
Taste of Africa - Guest speaker Siamak Malek
December 2009 - Theme: “ Health” As we celebrated World AIDS Day, we looked at how health has impacted African nations particularly in
development efforts.
Lecture: ―The role of Church in community development.‖ Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza
Lecture: ―Religion and Politics in Africa.‖ Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza
African Film: Where the water meets the sky
January 2010- Theme: “Music” As we started a New Year we embraced the sounds of the mother land and swayed and rocked to its beat.
Lecture: ―African Musical Prcatices: Journey from the traditional to the global.‖Eric Beeko
February 2010- Theme: “History” We took a look back in time. In order to work on successes and improve on failures to help advance the African
Continent.
Lecture: ―Haiti an Agonized Nation: Which Way Forward.‖ Dr. Joseph Adjaye, Matthew Casey, Rev. Dr. Leon
D. Pamphile and Dr. T Alerte
African Film: The Bible and the Gun
March 2010: Theme: “Human Rights” We learned more and analyzed these injustices as well as helped increase awareness
concerning the issue.
African Film: Sometimes in April
April 2010- Theme: “Leadership” As the year comes to a close we reflect on the year’s topics and themes and see what type of impact
they have made on African Leadership.
Student Recognition Reception
"My semester abroad in South Africa was like nothing I could have ever imagined. I was given the unique opportunity to live in a country
with an extremely rich history and the promise for an even fertile future. Studying abroad in any African country will guarantee to give
students a rare juxtaposition of both the modern and traditional culture. I will forever cherish the experiences I had while living and
learning in Cape Town. " Camille Davidson : South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zanzibar
12
prevention project and works with the Office of Refugee
Resettlement. She studied French because she wanted to be able to
communicate with non-English speakers, and also studied Swahili and two dialects of Arabic. Finally, she said she felt learning
history was important to understanding and ultimately solving any
problem.
She spent two summers in 2006 and 2008 volunteering in Kala
Refugee Camp in Zambia, developing and helping continue education projects. She worked directly with Congolese and
Zambians. She worked with Congoloese refugees fleeing the civil
war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She helped set up a camp newspaper and a computer lab, powered by solar panels
While here in Pittsburgh, she continued to volunteer with Somali Bantu and Burundian refugees at least once a week. She has
always had a passion to do non-profit development work
particularly working with refugees and/ or UNHCR. At Oxford, she plans to study forced migration and evidence-based social
intervention.
Once asked, ―Why did you choose the undergraduate certificate
in African Studies?‖ Eleanor responded, ―I love studying about
Africa.
Eleanor Ott, an African Studies Program
undergraduate 2009 Alum received the
Rhodes scholarship. In November 2009 Eleanor was chosen to be a Rhodes scholar,
a prestigious distinction given to only 32
Americans this year. The scholarship will
pay for two or three years of study at the
University of Oxford in England. Ms. Ott is the sixth Pitt graduate chosen to win the
international Rhodes award since 1983.
Eleanor received her Certificate in African Studies in April 2009. She also majored in
Chemistry, History and French. Eleanor realized that if she was going to effect real change for refugees, she was going to have to
change policies from the ground up. So she set her sights on
working with the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees.
With an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she stated that studying chemistry enhanced her ability to break down and
solve a problem, a skill that's useful in her current position as a
social science research analyst in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she works on a teenage pregnancy
Contact the ASP
University of Pittsburgh
African Studies Program
University Center for International Studies (UCIS)
4138 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412.648.2058
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/
Director
Dr. Joseph Adjaye, [email protected]
Phone: 412-648-1802
Associate Director
Dr. Macrina Lelei, [email protected]
Phone: 412-648-2058
Administrative Assistant
Sandra Matoushaya
Workstudy
Nick Bennett
Writer/Editor Sandra Matoushaya
The Program was established in 2001 to support and coordinate the interdiscipli-
nary teaching and research of Africa as an area of concentration for students and
faculty interested in this world region
The Mission of the program is to promote the interdisciplinary study and research
of Africa as an area of concentration for students and faculty interested in African
affairs and the African experience. This is in strong support of the University Cen-
ter for International Studies’ mission to integrate and reinforce all the strands of
international scholarship in the University through research, teaching, outreach
and public service. African Studies coordinates both the undergraduate and gradu-
ate certificate programs designed to provide students with opportunities to expand
and widen their knowledge of Africa as a world region, and foster a greater under-
standing of the forces that shape the extremely diverse and richly endowed conti-
nent. The program also serves the wider Pittsburgh community through outreach
activities to schools, church communities, private businesses and non-profit or-
ganizations to meet their needs as they seek to engage with the continent. African
language training and the coordination of country-and region-specific seminars on
contemporary topics are also key components of the Program’s efforts to meet the
demands of individuals and institutions seeking to expand their engagement with
the continent of Africa.
Student Spotlight-Eleanor Ott