Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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…

Portrait of person smiling leaning against a column

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…

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

Finding Her Purpose in the New African American and African Studies Major

November 14, 2022

For Michigan State University sophomore Amber McAddley, her African American and African Studies (AAAS) major is helping her learn about herself and what it means to be “Black in America.” After the new major launched last spring, McAddley became one of the first students at MSU to declare AAAS as their major. While also pursuing a minor in Spanish, McAddley…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Internship / News / Student

Recent MSU Graduate Reflects on Internship with United Farm Workers Foundation

October 13, 2022

As a former farm worker, Edith Saavedra was able to easily connect with the farmworker community and their struggles during her internship with the UFW (United Farm Workers) Foundation, a national organization that mobilizes farmworkers across the country to advocate for equitable policies including immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay, and other worker protections. The recent Michigan State…