Director's Welcome
Dr. Macrina Lelei, Interim Director of African Studies Program and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Pittsburgh's School of Education, discusses the opportunities for students to study Africa.
Transcript
Welcome to African Studies! My name is Macrina Lelei. I am the Interim Director of the program.
The program promotes the interdisciplinary study of Africa through courses, research, study abroad in Africa, conferences and lecture/projects by Africanist scholars, students and practitioners sometimes invited from the continent of Africa. The goal is to enhance knowledge and understanding of Africa--the past, present and future, and to look at the challenges and potential in global perspective.
Understanding Africa includes a study of various dimensions:
- study of sub‐Saharan Africa
- study of the entire continent of Africa
- study of the people of Africa, both in Africa and the diaspora
Students enrolled in the program are encouraged to engage with and explore ideas and material concerning Africa from multiple perspectives (such as history, cultures, development, political systems, artistic expression, and systems of belief) in relation to the wider world. They are encouraged through the various courses to shift their thinking from looking at Africa from a narrow focus to a more inclusive focus that reflects true global and comparative dialogue.
If you are interested in learning more about what we do, please stop by our office (4138 Wesley W. Posvar Hall) and we will be happy to meet with you and provide more information. Thank you. Asante sana.
