Department ofAfricana Studies

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Our faculty are trained in anthropology, education, English, history, philosophy, sociology and other disciplines spanning the humanities, behavioral health, and the social sciences. Drawing on expertise across the humanities and social sciences, the Department of Africana Studies advances teaching, research, and engagement that deepen understanding of the diverse experiences, contributions, and connections of people of African descent around the world. 

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Department Head

Core Faculty

Clemente Abrokwaa

Clemente Abrokwaa

Acting Director of Undergraduate Studies, Fall 2026
Associate Teaching Professor of Africana Studies
(814) 865-5257
cka1@psu.edu
Gabeba Baderoon

Gabeba Baderoon

Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Africana Studies, and Comparative Literature
gxb26@psu.edu

W. Oliver Baker

Assistant Professor of English and African American Studies
wxb5140@psu.edu
Ray Block

Ray Block

Professor of Political Science and Africana Studies
Brown-McCourtney Career Development Professorship
(814) 863-7660
rjb6233@psu.edu

Scott Burnett

Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
scott.burnett@psu.edu
J. Marlena Edwards

J. Marlena Edwards

Assistant Professor of History, African American Studies, and African Studies
(814) 865-8719
jue328@psu.edu
Hanan Elsayed

Hanan Elsayed

Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies and Africana Studies
Headshot of Tigist Engdaw

Tigist Y. Engdaw

Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
tye5075@psu.edu

Gabrielle Foreman

Paterno Family Professor of American Literature and Professor of Africana Studies and History
pgf5052@psu.edu
Keith Gilyard

Keith Gilyard

Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Africana Studies
Director of Graduate Studies
(814) 865-9123
rkg3@psu.edu
Jennifer Hamer

Jennifer Hamer

Professor of Africana Studies and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Senior Faculty Mentor, Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
JenniferHamer@psu.edu

Mathias Hanses

Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, and Africana Studies
Melvin and Rosalind Jacobs Endowed Fellow in the Humanities
mhanses@psu.edu

Christina Haynes

Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
csh5401@psu.edu

Bruce Heilman

Assistant Teaching Professor of African Studies
beh157@psu.edu
Wanda Knight

Wanda Knight

Professor of Art Education, African American Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Bioethics
wbk10@psu.edu

Clarence Lang

Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts
Professor of Africana Studies
Alex Lubin

Alex Lubin

Professor of Africana Studies and History
(814) 865-7114
alubin@psu.edu
Busi Makoni

Busi Makoni

Associate Teaching Professor of Africana Studies and Applied Linguistics
(814) 867-3553
sud17@psu.edu
Richard Mbih

Richard Mbih

Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
ram6096@psu.edu
Kidane Mengisteab

Kidane Mengisteab

Liberal Arts Professor of African Studies and Political Science
Director of Graduate Studies
(814) 863-5815
kim3@psu.edu
Shirley Moody-Turner

Shirley Moody-Turner

Associate Professor of English and Africana Studies
(814) 863-9584
scm18@psu.edu
Abderrahim Ouarghidi

Abderrahim Ouarghidi

Associate Teaching Professor of Africana Studies
auo45@psu.edu
Bronwen Powell

Bronwen Powell

Associate Professor of Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology
(814) 865-1187
bxp15@psu.edu
Edwin Sabuhoro

Edwin Sabuhoro

Assistant Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and African Studies
Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professor in Global Health
eps5479@psu.edu
Michelle Sikes

Michelle Sikes

Associate Professor of Kinesiology, Africana Studies, and History
(814) 865-8697
mxs1600@psu.edu
Cheryl Sterling

Cheryl Sterling

Associate Professor of English and African Studies
(814) 865-8425
czs796@psu.edu
Dorothy Takyiakwaa

Dorothy Takyiakwaa

Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
dvt5408@psu.edu

Sam Tenorio

Assistant Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Africana Studies
(814) 865-5888
sut508@psu.edu
Matthew Valnes headshot

Matthew Valnes

Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies
mpv5393@psu.edu
Dara Walker

Dara Walker

Assistant Professor of African American Studies, History, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
(814) 865-5005
duw482@psu.edu
Michael West

Michael West

Professor of Africana Studies and History
(814) 865-6873
mow5397@psu.edu

Emeritus Faculty

Affiliate Faculty

Yaw Agawu-Kakraba

Professor of Spanish and African Studies
yxa3@psu.edu
Beatrice Opokua Atencah headshot

Beatrice Opokua Atencah

John M. Anderson Assistant Teaching Professor of Art and Africana Studies
boa5223@psu.edu
Robert Bernasconi

Robert Bernasconi

Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy and African American Studies
(814) 865-6398
rlb43@psu.edu

Marcelius Braxton

Director of the Center for Social Change and Belonging
Affiliate Associate Teaching Professor of Africana Studies and Philosophy
mxb6032@psu.edu
B. Stephen Carpenter II

B. Stephen Carpenter II

Professor of Art Education and African American Studies
(814) 863-7314
bsc5@psu.edu
Jose Cossa

Jose Cossa

Associate Professor of Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and African Studies
jxc6421@psu.edu

Christopher Dancy

Harold and Inge Marcus Industrial and Manufacturing Career Development Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, of Computer Science and Engineering, and of African American Studies
Director of THiCC Lab
cdancy@psu.edu
Alicia Decker

Alicia Decker

Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, African Studies, and History
(814) 867-3561
acdecker@psu.edu
Headshot of Adrienne Dixson

Adrienne Dixson

Professor of Education Policy Studies, and Africana Studies
add5746@psu.edu
Johannes Fedderke

Johannes Fedderke

Professor of International Affairs and African Studies
(814) 867-2793
jwf15@psu.edu
Larry Gorenflo

Larry Gorenflo

Professor, Eleanor R. Stuckeman Chair in Design
Professor of Landscape Architecture, Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology
(814) 863-5337
lgorenflo@psu.edu

Emily Grosholz

Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy, English, and African American Studies
(814) 865-1676
erg2@psu.edu

Leah P. Hollis

Professor of Educational Policy and Africana Studies
Joshua Inwood

Joshua Inwood

Professor of Geography and African American Studies
Senior Research Associate in the Rock Ethics Institute
(814) 865-3433
jfi6@psu.edu
Michael Jacobson

Michael Jacobson

Professor of Forest Resources
Chair of Forest Ecosystem Management Program
Extension Specialist
(814) 865-3994
mgj2@psu.edu

Emmanuel Bruno Jean-François

Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies, Comparative Literature, and African Studies
Gregory Jenkins

Gregory Jenkins

Professor of Meteorology
(814) 865-0479
gsj1@psu.edu
RoseMary Jolly

RoseMary Jolly

Professor, Weiss Chair of the Humanities in Literature and Human Rights
(814) 865-1188
rjj14@psu.edu

Wanjiru Kareithi

Postdoctoral Scholar in College of Arts & Architecture, with courtesy affiliations in African Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
mqk6198@psu.edu
Susanne Klausen

Susanne Klausen

Julia Gregg Brill Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Professor of African Studies
smk6602@psu.edu

Samuel Kọ́láwọlé

Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies
sok5605@psu.edu
Maha Marouan

Maha Marouan

Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and African Studies
(814) 867-4269
mzm24@psu.edu

Tommaso M. Milani

Head, Department of Applied Linguistics
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Applied Linguistics, Jewish Studies, Africana Studies, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
tommaso.milani@psu.edu
Deborah Morton headshot

Deborah Morton

Associate Teaching Professor of Linguistics and African Studies
(814) 865-4252
dcm22@psu.edu
James Mutunga

James Mutunga

Assistant Professor of Biology and Africana Studies, Penn State Harrisburg
jjm7962@psu.edu
Phoebe Quaynor

Phoebe Quaynor

Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
pzq5014@psu.edu
Mare Sarr

Mare Sarr

Associate Professor of International Affairs and African Studies
(814) 867-2979
mxs2566@psu.edu
Jeanine Staples

Jeanine Staples

Professor of Education (LLED), African American Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
(814) 867-2734
jms1098@psu.edu
Headshot of Katharine Thompson

Katharine Thompson

Assistant Research Professor of Anthropology and African Studies
katharine.thompson@psu.edu
LaWanda Ward

LaWanda Ward

Associate Professor of Higher Education and African Studies
Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education
Nicole Sheree Webster

Nicole Sheree Webster

Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, and Africana Studies
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Health and Human Development
nsw10@psu.edu
Kirt H. Wilson

Kirt H. Wilson

Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and African American Studies
(814) 865-1985
khw2@psu.edu

Folayemi Wilson

Professor of Art, Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
fxw5102@psu.edu

Staff

Graduate Students

Nana-Anna Abaka-Cann

Ph.D. candidate in Education Policy Studies, Minor in African Studies
nqa5423@psu.edu

Adebola Adalumo

Ph.D. candidate in Art Education, minor in African Studies
Jeremy Adams

Jeremy Adams

Ph.D. Candidate – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
jma41@psu.edu
Mosudi Ademola

Mosudi Ademola

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies
maa7688@psu.edu
Richard Akano

Richard Akano

Dual-title Ph.D. student in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
maa7688@psu.edu
Rose Asantewaa Ansah

Rose Asantewaa Ansah

Dual-title Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
raa5946@psu.edu
Wilhelmina Antwi

Wilhelmina Antwi

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Bellisario College of Communications

Lauren Barnes

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
lnb5101@psu.edu
Headshot of Andiswa Bukula

Andiswa Bukula

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
abb7021@psu.edu

Keon Burns

Ph.D. Candidate – History and African American and Diaspora Studies
kqb5728@psu.edu

Tiesha Cassel

Ph.D. Candidate - Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
tac47@psu.edu

Özge Deniz

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
ozd5067@psu.edu

Marina Dikosso

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies
lmd61@psu.edu

Kesla Elmore

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
kte5055@psu.edu

Pheolyn Allen

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
pch5146@psu.edu
Andrews Idun headshot

Andrews Idun

Master’s in Business Analytics, minor in African Studies
axi5152@psu.edu

Kwasi Ndjokunla Ketchore

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies
kpk5562@psu.edu
Gideon Kiptoo

Gideon Kiptoo

Ph.D. student in German Literature and Culture with a minor in African Studies
gideonkiptoo@psu.edu

Ashley Lamarre

Ph.D. Candidate – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
ajl500@psu.edu

Sophie Lelei

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Geography and African Studies
sul1056@psu.edu

Nashormeh Lindo

Ph.D. Candidate – Art Education and African American and Diaspora Studies
nrn5120@psu.edu

Harrison Lucas

Ph.D. Candidate - Communication Arts and Sciences and African American and Diaspora Studies
hml5639@psu.edu

Yolanda Mackey

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
yam5028@psu.edu
Headshot of Brenard Malcolm 

Brenard Malcolm 

Dual-title Ph.D. Student in Applied Linguistics and African Studies 
bjm7078@psu.edu

Wendyliz Martinez

Dual Ph.D. candidate in English and African American and Diaspora Studies
mzm96@psu.edu
Headshot of Mphage Lawrence Mashabela

Mphage Lawrence Mashabela

Ph.D. Student in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, with a Minor in African Studies
mlm7653@psu.edu

Victoria McKeller-Peoples

Ph.D. Candidate – History and African American and Diaspora Studies
vam5477@psu.edu

Eden Mekonen

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Geography and African Studies
evm5746@psu.edu

Tiza Mfuni

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Geography and African Studies
tim5357@psu.edu

Shewit Mikael

Ph.D. candidate in Communication Arts and Sciences, minor in African Studies
szm6548@psu.edu

Mfundo Msimango

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
mjm9376@psu.edu

Mercy Muganyizi

Ph.D candidate in Architectural Engineering, minor in African Studies
mbm6827@psu.edu

Courtney Murray

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
cxm2274@psu.edu
Waraidzo Juliet Nyatsine

Waraidzo Juliet Nyatsine

Dual-title Ph.D. student in Health Policy and Administration and Demography, Minor in African Studies
wjn5119@psu.edu
Headshot of Precious Ojo

Precious Ojo

Dual-title Ph.D. Student in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies
pbo5079@psu.edu

Patience Okyere

Dual-title Ph.D in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
pvo5125@psu.edu

Keisha Oliver

Ph.D. Candidate - Art Education and African American and Diaspora Studies
kso5124@psu.edu
Amy Mjema Omolo

Amy Mjema Omolo

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Literature and African Studies
smo5480@psu.edu

Sam Otieno

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Literature and African Studies
sdo5141@psu.edu

Mia Powell

Ph.D. Candidate - Political Science and African American and Diaspora Studies
map6814@psu.edu
Joseph Atterh Puplampu

Joseph Atterh Puplampu

M.A. candidate in International Affairs, minor in African Studies
jkp6218@psu.edu

Morgan Robinson

Ph.D. Candidate - History and African American and Diaspora Studies
mar6932@psu.edu

Miriam Ruzicka

Ph.D. candidate in Curriculum and Instruction, minor in African Studies
miriamruzicka@psu.edu
Hala Salem

Hala Salem

Ph.D. candidate in Curriculum and Instruction (Language, Culture, and Society), minor in African Studies
hms6156@psu.edu

Cameron Sauers

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate - History and African American Studies
cts5575@psu.edu

Corena Smith

Ph.D. Candidate – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
cis5710@psu.edu

Eunice Toh

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
ext246@psu.edu

Joachim Ebrahim Ouma Wafula

Ph.D candidate in Architectural Engineering, Construction, minor in African Studies
jbw6038@psu.edu

Takina Walker

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
tdw5459@psu.edu

Norma Watson

Ph.D. Candidate- History and African American and Diaspora Studies
jnw99@psu.edu

Carmin Wong

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
cwong@psu.edu
Berhan Worku

Berhan Worku

M.A. candidate in Economics, minor in African Studies
bkw5583@psu.edu

Recent Graduates

Amazing Acquaye

M.A. candidate in International Affairs, minor in African Studies
ana5844@psu.edu
Jazmine Amanda Alexander

Jazmine Amanda Alexander

Graduating Class: December 2015
Major: Economics
Minor: African American Studies

Somtochukwu Attamah

Ph.D. candidate in Education Policy Studies, Minor in African Studies
saa6032@psu.edu
Mariatu Bah

Mariatu Bah

Graduating Class: December 2016
Major: Health Policy and Administration
Minor: African American Studies
Michael Banerjee

Michael Banerjee

Graduating Class: May 2016
Majors: Criminology and African American Studies
Akash Belsare

Akash Belsare

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
ayb121@psu.edu
Maya Blue-Robinson

Maya Blue-Robinson

Graduating Class: May 2016
Major: Advertising and Public Relations with a concentration in Advertising
Minor: African American Studies
D'Angelo Bridges

D’Angelo Bridges

Ph.D. English and African American and Diaspora Studies
dab496@psu.edu
Whitney Brown

Whitney Brown

Graduating Class: May 2017
Major: Legal Studies, Government Service, Public Policy Option
Minor: African American Studies
Morgan Burton

Morgan Burton

Graduating Class: May 2017
Major: Business Management with a focus in Human Resources
Minor: African American Studies
Elizabeth Catchmark

Elizabeth Catchmark

Graduating Class: May 2017
Majors: African American Studies, English, Philosophy, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Kevin Cedeño-Pacheco

Ph.D. – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
kzc192@psu.edu
Tembi Charles

Tembi Charles

Dual-title Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and African Studies
txc372@psu.edu
Qiyu Chen

Qiyu Chen

Dual-title Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and African Studies
qbc5046@psu.edu
Jerome Clark

Jerome Clark

Ph.D. – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
jac865@psu.edu
Miya Crosby

Miya Crosby

Graduating Class: May 2016
Major: African American Studies, Asian Studies, Comparative Literature, Global and International Studies
Minor: English, Korean
Richard Daily

Richard Daily

Ph.D. – History and African American and Diaspora Studies
rdd25@psu.edu

Edwin Dartey

Dual-title Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and African Studies
ead5744@psu.edu
Andrew Domzal

Andrew Domzal

Ph.D. Candidate-Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
asd5500@psu.edu
Taylor Elliott

Taylor Elliott

Graduating Class: December 2015
Major: African American Studies
Minor: Communications Art and Sciences
Brandon Erby

Brandon Erby

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
bue114@psu.edu

Sabrina Evans

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
sle33@psu.edu
Alexander Fyfe

Alexander Fyfe

Dual-Title Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and African Studies
acf198@psu.edu
Alphonso Grant

Alphonso Grant

Ph.D. – Art Education and African American and Diaspora Studies
awg136@psu.edu
Kerrie G. Green

Kerrie G. Green

Graduating Class: May, 2016
Major: African American Studies
Minor: Sociology
Gabriel Green

Gabriel Green

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
gkg5081@psu.edu
Michael Hicks

Michael Hicks

Ph.D. History and African American and Diaspora Studies
muh301@psu.edu
Kenyah Jordan-Jackson

Kenyah Jordan-Jackson

Graduating Class: May 2016
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: African American Studies
Tykia McWilliams

Tykia McWilliams

Graduating Class: May 2016
Major: Public Relations
Minor: African American Studies
ShaVonte Mills

ShaVonte Mills

Ph.D. Candidate – History and African American and Diaspora Studies
skm5577@psu.edu
Irene Momanyi

Irene Momanyi

Dual-title Ph.D. in French and African Studies
ikm10@psu.edu
Yasmine Ndiaye

Yasmine Ndiaye

M.A. candidate in International Affairs, minor in African Studies
mmn5770@psu.edu
Lawrencia Owusu-Ansah

Lawrencia Owusu-Ansah

M.A. candidate in International Affairs, minor in African Studies
lqo5084@psu.edu
Mudiwa Pettus

Mudiwa Pettus

Ph.D.– English and African American and Diaspora Studies
mmp258@psu.edu
Samantha Reid

Samantha Reid

Graduating Class: May 2016
Major: Secondary Social Studies Education
Minors: African American Studies, History

Adenike “Nikky” Samuel

Graduating Class: May 2017
Majors: Broadcast Journalism
Minors: African American Studies, Business L.A.

Justin Smith

Ph.D. Candidate - English and African American and Diaspora Studies
jas1377@psu.edu
Brisa Marie Smith Flores

Brisa Marie Smith Flores

Graduating Class: May 2016
Majors: Art History, Global and International Studies, and History
Minors: African American Studies, Latin American Studies
Tyler Sperrazza

Tyler Sperrazza

Ph.D. Student – History and African American and Diaspora Studies
txs392@psu.edu
Christian James Tabron

Christian James Tabron

Graduating Class: May 2016
Majors: African American Studies and Criminology
Minor: Sociology

Bailey Thomas

Ph.D. Candidate – Philosophy and African American and Diaspora Studies
kxt96@psu.edu
Ivy Nyantakyiwa Tsibuah

Ivy Nyantakyiwa Tsibuah

Graduate student in Hospitality Management, minor in African Studies
int5022@psu.edu
Katie Warczak

Katie Warczak

Ph.D. Candidate – English and African American and Diaspora Studies
kaw64@psu.edu

Academic Advisor

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