Student

Graduate Embarks on New Chapter After Life-Changing Experiences at MSU

December 16, 2022

Writing has always been something I was innately interested in. Throughout all the stages of my life, I would always find ways to engage in it when all other forms of communication fell short. This feeling has remained very much present since the early days of surpassing the single composition page required for writing prompts in elementary school, writing articles for my high school’s newspaper, and composing poems and short stories in my room on the weekends...

African American and African Studies / News / Student / Student

Living Her ‘Freedom Dream’ With New Major

December 12, 2022

Evamelo (Eva) Oleita came to Michigan State University wanting to pursue a degree in Human Biology, but after re-evaluating her priorities and thinking about the communities she wanted to serve, she is now among the inaugural class of students majoring in African American and African Studies (AAAS) at MSU. Oleita, who is in her second year of her undergraduate education,…

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 / News / Student / Student

‘Repairing Her Soul’ Through African American and African Studies Major

November 28, 2022

Following this year's launch of the African American and African Studies (AAAS) Bachelor of Arts program, Mike Martin, a junior now double majoring in AAAS and Arts and Humanities, was one of the first students at Michigan State University to transition to the new major. "AAAS isn’t just a major I gain knowledge in, but a place where I actively…

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 / 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…

News / Research / Student / Student

Philosophy Student Gives New Perspective on the Nature of Marx and Nietzsche

May 13, 2022

As a Philosophy major, Izzy Taylor studied how the philosophies of Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche share traits in some areas and how they differ in others. For Taylor, this research began as a final paper for her 19th Century Philosophy class, titled "Where Marx Underlies Nietzsche, Where Nietzsche Turns on Marx,” and grew into a personal interest in the intersection…

African American and African Studies / News / Student / Student

Undergrad Adds AAAS Minor to Increase Understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Justice

May 5, 2022

Emily Burch often questioned the answers she received about the lack of diversity in her small town in northwest Michigan. And when she graduated from high school in 2018, she decided to find some answers by attending a public university downstate. This month, Burch will earn a bachelor’s degree and three minors from Michigan State University to put her on…

Award / Classics / French / Italian / Portuguese / Spanish / Student / Student

Romance and Classical Studies Announces 2021-2022 Departmental Awards 

May 2, 2022

The Department of Romance and Classical Studies (RCS) held its annual awards ceremony on Friday, April 29, in Wells Hall where students of the department were recognized for their hard work and academic achievements and winners were announced for the 2021-2022 departmental awards and scholarships. The following are the 2021-2022 RCS Department Awards recipients:  Classics Outstanding Student in Classics  Jack…

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

First-Generation Student Finds Niche, Discovers Value of MSU Education

April 27, 2022

College wasn’t always an end goal for Gabby Riley. While her paternal grandmother was a role model as a long-time teacher in Detroit Public Schools and a graduate of Howard University, her parents didn’t follow the same collegiate path. As a student of Renaissance High School in Detroit, Riley didn’t view herself as college-bound, but quickly changed her mind after…