A NEWSLETTER FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERS I TY DEPARTMENT OF AFR ICAN AMER ICAN & AFR ICAN STUD I ES

Spring Quarter 2009Spring Quarter 2009Spring Quarter 2009Spring Quarter 2009

Volume 7, Issue #2Volume 7, Issue #2Volume 7, Issue #2Volume 7, Issue #2

The PRISMThe PRISMThe PRISMThe PRISM

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The department of African American & African Studies would like to thank you for con-tinued support of The PRISM newsletter. Have a safe and productive summer and you will

hear from us in the Autumn!

Sincerely,

AAAS Department

Inside this issue:

Kalu’s Korner 2

Meet the Extension Ctr. Staff 3

Alumni Spotlight 4

Meet Scopas Poggo 4

End of Year Celebration 5

Kudos Graduate Student 6

Save the Date 7

Dr. William E. Nelson, Jr. Officially Retires (by Marvin Mitchell)

Over 200 friends, family and colleagues came from near and far to celebrate Dr. Wil-liam E. Nelson, Jr., the man, the educator and his legacy as he officially retires from The Ohio State University after 40 years of distin-guished service in the De-partments of African Ameri-can and African Studies and Political Science. The retire-ment celebration was held on Friday, May 22, 2009 at the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center. Members of his family, along with members of the univer-sity community, local, state and national organizations saluted Dr. Nelson for his leadership and vision for his tremendous impact on the lives of students, the Colum-bus community and the ad-vancement of the study and research of people of African descent globally. Recognized as one of the pioneers for the establish-ment of the discipline of Af-rican American and African Studies in the United States, Dr. Nelson was instrumental in the establishment of the Department of African American & African Studies at The Ohio State University. He chaired the department (formerly Black Studies) from 1972-1986 and created one of the first and most comprehensive programs in Black Studies in the country. He is also credited with crea-

tion of the Department of African American and Afri-can Studies Community Ex-tension Center to enhance community access to the university and its resources. Dr. Nelson also helped to make OSU’s Department of Political Science one of the leading producers of African American PhD’s in that dis-cipline. Dr. Anthonia Kalu, Chairper-son for the Department of African American & African Studies presented Dr. Nel-son with a plaque and kente stole. She announced that the conference room at the department’s Community Extension Center, located in Columbus’s Mt. Vernon area will be named in his honor.

The Department of Political Science has also established the William E. Nelson, Jr. Scholarship Fund to provide financial support for under-graduate students.

Dr. William E. Nelson celebrates his retirement with colleagues. Dr. William E. Nelson, Jr. is shown with (l to r) Dr. Mac A, Stewart, current OSU Vice Provost for Minority Affairs and Dr. Joseph Russell, former OSU Vice Provost for Minority Affairs.

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Graduation: A Destination for AAAS Students (by the Chair)

On May 22, 2009 the Department had the pleasure to celebrate forty years of Dr. William E. Nelson’s leadership and legacy at the Ohio State University. Collegues, friends and family spent a few memorable hours reminiscing about Professor Nelson’s years at the Ohio State University, Colum-bus. Friends, collegues and well wishers came from as far away as New York, Tennessee and Ala-bama. They came bearing gifts, messages of goodwill, anecdotes and music. We know that Profes-sor Nelson was pleased with the turnout and we wish him well.

The following week, the Depart-menr followed up with that bitter-sweet celebration of students called college graduation. A total of 30 students—9 graduate stu-dents and 21 undergraduates—are going out into the real world from our Department this year. We will miss all of you.

On behalf of OSU’s Department of African American and African Studies, I would like to thank all the parents, friends and extended family of all the graduates. Thank you for giving us the honor of sharing this brief period in these young people’s lives with you. Without your encouragement and support, these students are now proud graduates of the Ohio State University.

I want to thank this year’s graduat-ing students for staying on track and making it to the end of either their undergraduate or graduate studies careers. For the under-graduates, completing four years in college is the first step as the

end of formal initiation into adult life and living. I know that when you completed high school you were very sure that you had be-come free to everything you ever wanted to do in life. I also know that the dream of having the op-portunity to do all that you ever wanted to do in life beyond your parents’ watchful eyes had to be put aside after your first week in college. I hope that by now you have learned that your dream to do everything you want is your personal guide to a promising and successful future. You should never lose sight of that dream. The OSU diploma marks the end of a phase of your efforts to achieve your dream. While it is true that at some point or the other during your time at OSU you swore that you would never again place yourself in a situation which requires you to write re-search papers, examinations and so on, some of you will go on to graduate programs around the country and even abroad; others will find jobs. All of you will con-tinue to be proud OSU alums; Buckeyes. Here in the Depart-ment, we will keep your spot warm for whenever you decide to return for a visit. Continue to remember this Department, this College, and this University. As you chart your futures, remember that we would like to know all the great things you will achieve; so, please join our Alumni list.

We also congratulate this year’s AAAS graduate student class. Especially, I want to use this op-portunity to thank this graduating class for continuing the work of Voices of the Black Academy.

Yours has been a vibrant class. Some of you are going on to PhD programs here at the OSU and to other universities while others are going to start new jobs. On behalf of the Department, I want to thank you for giving us the oppor-tunity to share in your life’s dreams over the last two years. It has been a pleasure to know you. We look forward to hearing about your progress and future achieve-ments through the Alumni website that we are putting together for you.

To all of the graduating students, as you leave the Ohio State Uni-versity and this department, I want to remind you that this na-tion is undergoing a big change. I want you to remember that it was during your time here in this de-partment that the United States elected the first person of African descent as its president. You may or may not have shared all the promises you made to yourself with anyone as a result of that historical event in all our lives. But I would like to remind you that a great part of that national achieve-ment has its foundation in the mission of this Department. In 1969 when this department was founded, nobody knew that those who participated in demanding inclusion in the curricular life of this university would live to vote a black man into the US presidency. As you leave here 40 years later, look forward and ask yourself what great change you would like to be apart of in this department, the university, the State of Ohio or the nation. And whatever the change you would like to see, start work on it today.

“With new

leadership and

direction, the

future looks

bright for the

Department of

African

American and

African Studies”

Chair, Anthonia Kalu

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Meet the Extension Center Staff

Sarah Twitty is a Program Coordinator and Fiscal Offi-cer at the CEC. She holds a BA in public relations and has been a university employee for more than 35 years. Sarah was the 1987 recipient of the Outstanding Staff Award in the College of Human Ecology and has been nominated for the Outstanding Staff Award several times in the College of Humanities. She enjoys working in the community and planning programs.

Marvin Mitchell serves as the Technology Pro-gram Coordinator at the Department of African American and African Studies Community Ex-tension Center. He provides technical support and training to community residents and coor-dinates the promotion of the Community Exten-sion Center’s activities and events. He holds a BA in Communication and has been employed with the university for four years.

Located in the historic Mt. Vernon area on Columbus' near east side, the Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center is the outreach component of the Department of African American and African Stud-ies. Through serving the university and community, the staff helps the Community Extension Center fulfill its mission of enhancing the educational opportunities of students and improving the quality of life of people who live and work in Co-lumbus’s urban communities

Carla Wilks is the Senior Outreach Program Coordinator at the depart-ments Community Extension Center (CEC). Carla holds a BA with a double major in African American and African Studies and English. She enjoys her work at the CEC. Particularly, she likes working with univer-sity and community members to develop opportunities that enhance the learning experience at the Center.

As you leave us remember that the destina-tion of most enslaved Africans in this United States was Ohio. You are the product of that freedom which they desired and, eventually, achieved. As you leave, I challenge you to think about what you will contribute to this department, this state and this nation that will keep Ohio as the center of progress in the

United States; then, do it! And, do not look back except to see how far behind you have left those who tell you that you cannot acheieve your dreams. Finally, on Graduation Day, remember to look into the crowd and wave to your family and friends. And then walk with confidence

into that future you have been preparing for yourself.

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Alumni Spotlight (by Ezekiel Peebles)

Many students think that a Bachelor’s degree in African American & African studies will not get you far in life. Well don’t mention that myth to Kimberly Lowe. She is the Director of Alumni Clubs at The Ohio State University. Kimberly was interested in learning more about the history of African Americans, not just the civil rights movement , which seemed to be the typical response from people. As a young girl growing up in Philadelphia, Kim con-

stantly challenged herself to do better and want better out of life. Kim also has the pleasure of being a trivia question for The Ohio State University’s Women’s La-crosse Team. She is known as the first African Ameri-can woman to play for the program. Kimberly received her de-gree during Spring Quarter 2003. She went on to gradu-ate school and received her Masters in Sports Manage-ment & Administration. Kimberly spent a short time

searching for a job, but would eventually stay with her Alma Mater. Kimberly is dedicated to seeing Buck-eyes across the nation unite. You can catch Kimberly co-ordinating the African American Alumni Reunion which will take place April 30-May 2, 2010 in Colum-bus Ohio. She urges all Af-rican Americans Alumni to stay connected and get in-volved in the buckeye com-munity.

Meet Dr. Scopas Poggo (by Marvin Mitchell)

Dr. Scopas S. Poggo is cur-rently Assistant Professor in the Department of African Ameri-can and African Studies at The Ohio State Uni-versity, Mans-field campus. He joined the De-partment in 1999 after completing his Ph.D. degree program in the

Department of History at the Uni-versity of California, Santa Bar-bara (1999). His first book entitled The First Sudanese Civil War: Africans, Arabs, and Israelis in the Southern Sudan, 1955-1972 was published by Palgrave Mac-millan in December 2008. He is currently working on his second book entitled Voices of War and Peace in the Sudan, 1915-2005: Civilians, Combatants, and For-

eign Observers. Professor Poggo has also published two book chap-ters and three journal articles: “Zande Resistance to Foreign Penetration, 1860-1890” in White Nile Black Blood: From Khar-toum to Kampala (Red Sea Press, 2000; “Kuku Religious Experi-ences in the Sudan and in Exile in Uganda, 1900-1972” in Religion and Conflict in the Sudan (Paulines Publications, Africa Nai-robi, Kenya 2002); “The Politics of Liberation in the Southern Su-dan, 1967-1972: The Role of Is-rael, African Heads of State, and Foreign Mercenaries,” The Uganda Journal, Vol. 47 (The Uganda Society, 2001); “The Ori-gins and Culture of Blacksmiths in Kuku Society of the Southern Su-dan, 1797-1955,” Journal of Afri-can Cultural Studies, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Routledge, Francis and Taylor, 2006); and “General Ibrahim Ab-boud’s Military Administration in the Sudan, 1958-1964: Implemen-tation of the Programs of Islami-

zation and Arabization in the Southern Sudan,” Northeast Afri-can Studies Journal (Michigan State University Press, 2007). In 2001, Dr. Poggo was one of the six recipients of the College of Hu-manities Seed Grant. Professor Poggo co-founded the Black His-tory Month on the OSU, Mansfield campus with Mrs. Yolanda Allen and Mr. Darrick Jackson. In the same year, he received the prestig-ious 2002 College of Humanities Diversity Enhancement Award. On February 17, 2009. Professor Poggo presented a paper entitled “President Barack Obama’s Pater-nal Ancestral Roots” as part of the celebration of the Black History Month on the OSU, Mansfield campus.

Assistant Professor Scopas Poggo

Ms. Kimberly Lowe Alumnus c/o 2003 BA

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End of Year Celebration (by Ezekiel Peebles)

The Department’s End of Year Cele-bration took place May 29, 2009 at the Frank Hale Cultural Center. The department celebrated the academic achievements of its majors, minors, and graduate students. There was music, food, and most of all, people. Students were recognized with cer-tificates and cheers and applause from their families, faculty members and staff from the department of Af-rican American & African Studies. The Chairperson, Dr. Anthonia Kalu recognized the faculty members on recent accomplishments, retire-

ments , and new hires as well. Dr. Salome Fouts coordinated musical performances. The audience joined in and sing and dance. You could feel the beat of the drums radiate through the Hale Center. Professor Umbisa Gusa coordinated poetry and a theatrical dialogue among Swahili students in the foreign language pro-grams. The celebration may mark the end of academic school year, but it is a joyous time as well. The graduating students are leaving the department to new endeavors and the depart-ment would like to congratulate all

the graduates! You will be greatly missed. We would like to recognize the fol-lowing undergraduate students on their recent accomplishments:

∗ Desiree Riley– scholarly works accepted for Denman Research Works, and National Council of Black Studies

∗ Natasha Clemons– scholarly works accepted to National Council of Black Studies

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Kudos Graduate Students

The graduate students of

the Department of African

American & African Studies

program are moving for-

ward in pursuit of new en-

deavors. The department is

proud to announce that a

total of nine students will

graduate from our graduate

program this Spring, Sum-

mer and Autumn quarters

with a Masters of Arts de-

gree. It has been a pleasure

to witness these students’

growth and development.

Now as they move forward,

it is the departments hope

that they will keep in touch

and never forget that there

is a place here for them for-

ever.

The students graduating

from our MA program are:

∗ Ashley Bowden

∗ Tamara Butler

∗ Christina Bush

∗ Melissa Crum

∗ Ashley Moore

∗ Dawn Miles

∗ Lindsay Sumner

∗ Clay Johnson

∗ Karen Ngonya

The future looks promising

for the students. The oppor-

tunities that await them in-

clude are PhD programs at

The Ohio State University

and Temple University, lu-

crative employment oppor-

tunities in New York, South

Carolina and here in Colum-

bus, Ohio.

Congratulations Buckeyes!

Save the Date

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You are invited to JoinYou are invited to JoinYou are invited to JoinYou are invited to Join

The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

Department of African American and African StudiesDepartment of African American and African StudiesDepartment of African American and African StudiesDepartment of African American and African Studies

in in in in

celebratingcelebratingcelebratingcelebrating

40 years of 40 years of 40 years of 40 years of

excellence in educationexcellence in educationexcellence in educationexcellence in education

October 2009October 2009October 2009October 2009

Additional information to follow in future PRISM issuesAdditional information to follow in future PRISM issuesAdditional information to follow in future PRISM issuesAdditional information to follow in future PRISM issues

Visit aaas.osu.edu for updated information regarding this celebrationVisit aaas.osu.edu for updated information regarding this celebrationVisit aaas.osu.edu for updated information regarding this celebrationVisit aaas.osu.edu for updated information regarding this celebration

Send your eSend your eSend your eSend your e----mail address to: aaas@osu.edu to receive future updates mail address to: aaas@osu.edu to receive future updates mail address to: aaas@osu.edu to receive future updates mail address to: aaas@osu.edu to receive future updates

Important Dates

JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE

14TH 14TH 14TH 14TH

COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT

CHECK OUT OUR SITE

WWW.AAAS.OSU.EDU

A N E W S L E T T E R F R O M

T H E O H I O S T A T E

U N I V E R S I T Y

486 University Hall

230 N. Oval Mall

Columbus, Ohio 43210

Phone: 614-292-3700

Fax: 614-292-2293

E-mail: aaasmail@osu.edu

African American and African Studies at The Ohio

State University is the proud product of the 1960s

Black freedom movement. Originally established as

an academic division in October 1969, Black Stud-

ies (now African American and African Studies) ob-

tained formal department status in 1972 and today

enjoys the reputation of being one of the strongest

African American and African Studies programs in

the nation. The primary mission of the department

is to stimulate teaching and research about the

Black experience in the U.S., Africa and throughout

the African Diaspora, and to encourage students

and others to assess various strategies for advanc-

ing human progress through the examination of the

worldwide struggle for Black freedom.