EKU African and African American Studies

EKU African and African American Studies For more information about AFA at EKU, email Dr. Ogechi Anyanwu at [email protected] or visit our website: http://afastudies.eku.edu/

The African/African-American Studies Program (AFA) is an interdisciplinary program that explores the histories, societies, and cultures of Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the Diaspora, including the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America. Courses are offered from a broad range of disciplines, including the arts and humanities, social sciences, law enforcement, and health sc

iences, spanning subjects from African literature to the black church and social justice. New features of the AFA program will include study abroad education, service- learning, and internship/co-op opportunities. A minor or certificate in AFA provides important employable skills to students of all ethnic backgrounds—especially as the US workforce grows more diverse and employers begin to recognize the measurable economic benefits of diversity in the workplace. Academic training in race, gender, class, and social justice helps to prepare graduates for entry into occupational fields like Education, Social Work, Law, Community Organization, Politics, Business, Counseling, Recreation, Management, Urban and Regional planning, Media, Government, and many more. The program also gives its participants the chance to expand their perspectives and become strong global citizens. Classes in AFA reveal histories and experiences that are often overlooked, and undermine the harmful narratives about Africans and African Americans that persist in our culture. These stereotypes are what Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warns about in her TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story.”

In the AFA program, we hope to move beyond the single story, and explore the complexity and diversity of the human experience.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EFZj9St6d/
09/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EFZj9St6d/

Long before the convenience of modern smartphone navigation, a brilliant mathematician named Gladys West was quietly mapping the foundation for the technology we rely on every single day.

Through her groundbreaking work, West utilized complex algorithms to create extremely accurate models of the Earth’s surface and gravitational fields, a mathematical shape known as the geoid.

Her extensive research on radar altimetry projects, including Seasat and GEOSAT, allowed scientists to track satellite positions with pinpoint precision. While the United States Department of Defense developed the overall Global Positioning System, it was her highly precise geodetic models that were absolutely essential to calibrating the system and making modern GPS navigation a reality.

💬 How often do you rely on GPS technology to navigate your daily life?

Sources: U.S. Air Force historical records, scientific archives.

Fall 2026 CLASS open house
08/21/2026

Fall 2026 CLASS open house

Let the love for learning rule humanity. Congratulations to the class of 2026!
05/08/2026

Let the love for learning rule humanity. Congratulations to the class of 2026!

Join me in congratulating Abigail Wild and Nadia Grullon, who graduated this spring. AFA is proud of all they accomplish...
05/08/2026

Join me in congratulating Abigail Wild and Nadia Grullon, who graduated this spring. AFA is proud of all they accomplished here at EKU. Greater things await them.

The Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies held its annual awards ceremony on Friday, May 1. Congratul...
05/04/2026

The Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies held its annual awards ceremony on Friday, May 1. Congratulations to the award recipients, including three AFA students who won the Excellence in Writing Award. Thanks to the dean of CLASS, Dr. Mercy Canon, and the Associate dean, John Bowes, for supporting the department. Thanks to the faculty who mentored the award recipients and the award committees.

The winners of the 2026 Ann Peyton Award are Angela Hillary, Marigold Nai, and Uchechi Anyanwu. Ann Peyton was the first...
04/21/2026

The winners of the 2026 Ann Peyton Award are Angela Hillary, Marigold Nai, and Uchechi Anyanwu. Ann Peyton was the first black undergraduate student to graduate from Eastern Kentucky University. Although she was the only black student during her first year at EKU, Ann Peyton had no difficulty integrating with the EKU community at a difficult time in the nation's history. She grew up in integrated neighborhoods and had a well-respected grandfather, a landowner, who prepared her to fit in at EKU. The Ann Peyton Award honors her memory by recognizing EKU students who have embodied the spirit of community. Join me in congratulating the winners.

Students in the African and African American studies program shared their fascinating research projects with the EKU com...
04/21/2026

Students in the African and African American studies program shared their fascinating research projects with the EKU community at the annual community showcase held at the Center for Africana Engagement this afternoon. Many thanks to our EKU students for their hard work and dedication, to the faculty who mentored them, and to the EKU administrators in attendance: Dr. Rusty Carpenter, Assistant Provost, and Dr. John Bowes, Associate Dean of CLASS.

04/10/2026

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Richmond, KY
40475

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Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm

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