@gianina

First MSU Students to Earn BA Degrees in African American and African Studies Graduate This Spring

April 19, 2024

Michigan State University’s Spring 2024 commencement will see the very first students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in African American and African Studies. As the first graduates of this program, Morgan Braswell, Jhala Martin, and Mike Martin mark a significant milestone in the history of the Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS), the history of the College…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Donor / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News

MSU’s African American and African Studies Strengthened by Transformative Gift

June 7, 2023

A gift of $500,000 that’s rooted in reparations and recognizes the powerful contributions being made by Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) toward racial and social justice will benefit the students and faculty of that department for generations to come. The Adrian Dominican Sisters, a Catholic congregation of more than 400 Dominican sisters and 200…

African American and African Studies / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Event / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / 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 / Faculty / News

Growing an Innovative Curriculum: New and Updated AAAS Courses for Fall

August 17, 2022

Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) continues its upward trajectory with the addition of five new or revised courses for the Fall 2022 semester. The courses offer contemporary perspectives and innovative curriculum within the evolving discipline of Black Studies. Each course highlights the department’s focus on Black Feminisms, Black Gender Studies, and Black Sexualities Studies…

African American and African Studies / Faculty / Faculty / News / Programs / Staff

Sonic Introductions Reflect Love of Self, Community, and AAAS

February 4, 2022

The Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) faculty wish to motivate and inspire others by sharing, through personally created Sonic Introductions, what inspires them in their work and personal life. These Sonic Introductions can be found on the AAAS website and consist of audio clips from interviews combined with music and ambient sounds, all selected to showcase what…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / News / Programs

AAAS Department to Offer Several New Classes in Spring 2022

December 1, 2021

The Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) is offering several new or revised undergraduate courses during the Spring 2022 semester that each, in their own way, highlight and emphasize the department’s focus on Black Feminisms, Black Genders Studies, and Black Sexualities Studies. “Excellence in undergraduate education requires an ethic of care for students’ ideas and a demonstrated actionable…

Faculty Stories / News

Scholar, Performer, Educator Joins AAAS Faculty

October 27, 2021

A scholar, performer, and educator, Gianina K. Lockley joined MSU’s Department of African American and African Studies (AAAS) on August 16, 2021, as a Research Associate whose work is situated at the intersection of critical race theory, ethnography, storytelling, theatre, dance, and performance studies with a focus on the study of race, class, gender, and sexuality within both staged performances and the performative practices of every day.

Faculty / News / Staff

College Welcomes 27 New Faculty and Staff Members

September 7, 2021

This semester, the College of Arts & Letters is pleased to welcome 27 new faculty and staff members. Please join us in welcoming these newest faculty and staff members to the College.

Portraits of 3 smiling women with short dark hair.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / News

AAAS Department Welcomes Three New Faculty Members

August 23, 2021

The Department of African American and African Studies will welcome three new faculty members as the 2021-2022 academic year begins. In September 2021, Trimiko Melancon, LeConté Dill, and Gianina Lockley will join this new department within the College of Arts & Letters. 