Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Love of Black Studies Draws Student to African American and African Studies Major

February 2, 2023

Michigan State University junior Morgan Braswell has had an interest in Black Studies from a very young age. Growing up in Detroit, watching shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and A Different World, and hearing her father talk about Malcolm X, instilled in Braswell a sense of pride in her culture. That influence has led her to become one…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Programs / Student

Blazing a Trail for Future African American and African Studies Majors

January 24, 2023

Following in the footsteps set by her grandfather and mother who both attended Michigan State University, Anel "Nel" Robinson, a junior from Brookfield, Wisconsin, is now making history of her own as a member of the first cohort of students majoring in MSU’s new African American and African Studies (AAAS) major. “I love making history, and this is neither the…

Alumni / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Theatre

Supporting a Diverse and Inclusive Work Environment Through Theatre

January 20, 2023

Lynn Lammers’ work at Michigan State University has been nothing short of transformative. As Artistic Director of the Transforming Theatre Ensemble (TTE), she helps bring the art of theatre into a different area of campus life: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education. Through specialized workshops, the TTE, which is part of MSU’s Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, uses theatrical…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Student

Pursuing a Love of Black Feminisms Through New AAAS Major

December 6, 2022

With a passion for Black feminisms, Bailey Griffin, an MSU sophomore, said it’s an honor to be among the first group of students at Michigan State University to declare African American and African Studies (AAAS) as their major. The newly established Bachelor of Arts degree in African American and African Studies is being offered for the first time this year through the Department of African American and African Studies in…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / News

MSU Translation Center Launches with Services Covering More Than 20 Languages

December 5, 2022

Michigan State University launched the new Translation Center to meet the growing needs for high-quality translation and interpreting services that can increase access to information on campus and beyond. The MSU Translation Center offers services in more than 20 languages including Ancient Greek, Arabic, Bengali, Catalan, English, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin, Mongolian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Thai,…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Performance / Student / Student

Learning to ‘Live Life Alongside One Another’ with Black Feminisms Course

December 2, 2022

The “Black Feminisms: Past, Present, and Futures” course taught by Chamara Jewel Kwakye, Academic Specialist in MSU’s Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS), emphasizes creativity and the practice of feminism in everyday life –– Black feminism as doing –– while learning “to live life alongside one another.” A core introductory course in MSU’s newly established B.A. in African…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Student / Student

Finding Community Within New African American and African Studies Major

November 21, 2022

Jhala Martin is one of the first students at Michigan State University to declare African American and African Studies (AAAS) as her major. The new Bachelor of Arts degree offered through the Department of African American and African Studies within the College of Arts & Letters was launched this year to promote and support Black transdisciplinary advocacy, engagement, and thought.…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Event / News

MSU Celebrates New Academic Learning Space for Department of African American and African Studies

November 18, 2022

Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters held an official opening Nov. 17 for a new space dedicated to the Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) — the first department of its kind at MSU. “The Ascension of AAAS” event celebrated the 8,400-square-foot renovated space as well as the new bachelor’s degree offered by the department. Located on…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Grant / News / Research

Forms of Freedom Project Reimagines Pedagogy, Artmaking, and Educational Justice

November 16, 2022

Conceived through an imperative to reimagine the possibilities for public pedagogy, Forms of Freedom: The Art and Design of Black and Indigenous Creative Public Pedagogies is a two-year research collaboration between Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artist collectives to exchange, learn, and create radical forms of artmaking and education.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Research / Scholarship

Inaugural Endowed Professor Teaches How to Connect Writing With Culture

November 15, 2022

As the inaugural Karen L. Gillmor Ph.D. Endowed Professor in Professional and Public Writing at Michigan State University, Kristin Arola, an innovative scholar and researcher, is not only teaching students persuasive and effective writing skills she also is showing them how to connect and make sense of their culture through their writing. “To have been selected to serve in this…