AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
 

Tuesday Bulletin, Fall No. 1



THE TUESDAY BULLETIN

Issue No. 1 Fall 2004
August 31, 2004

Weekly News from the AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 100 INTERNATIONAL CENTER

EAST LANSING MI 48824-1035

For back issues, see archive <http://africa.msu.edu>

BULLETIN CONTENTS

EVENTS

MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFERENCES
FELLOWSHIPS
GRANTS
JOBS


EVENTS

September 2, Thursday

Writing Proposals to Fund International Dissertation and Pre-Dissertation Research Workshop. This two-hour workshop, which is open to and gratis for all students, will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Room 305 International Center.

For those who wish to continue, it also is the first session of the semester-long, 1-3 credit seminar "International Social Science Research (ISSR) in Africa, Asia, and Latin America: Concept, Design, and Praxis", 6::00 noon, Room 201, International Center.


September 9, Thursday

"Impact of HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Building Bridges and Alleviating Poverty Through the Provision of Free Education for HIV/AIDS Orphans in Rural Areas," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Jackson Kaguri, Co-Founder/Program Director of Scientific Technology and Sustainable Agricultural Development, Inc. and Nyaka Aids O, 12:00 noon, Room 201, International Center.


MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS

Course Announcement

The following Political Science course (PLS 344) is a one-time only, new African undergraduate course for those interested in pursuing an interest in Africa.

Fall 2004
PLS 344: Politics of Third World (focus on Africa); TuTh; 12:40 - 2:00 p.m.; 3 credits
Instructor: Prof. Charles Matkze

PLS 351
African Politics; MW; 3:00 - 4:40 p.m.; 3 credits; Instructor: Charles Matkze

Professor Matzke is an experienced senior American political scientist who has spent a number of years studying Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Spring 2005
PLS 351: African Politics; TuTh; 1:00 - 2:20 p.m.; 3 credits; Instructor: John Maukumbe

PLS 440
Comparative Politics (focus on Africa); MW; 3:00-4:40 p.m.; 4 credits; Instructor: John Maukumbe.

Professor Makumbe is a Zimbabwean, the former chair of the Department of Politics at the University of Zimbabwe, an outspoken critic of Zimbabwe's President Mugabe, and an articulate and forceful lecturer. He has written widely on African politics, esp. Southern Africa and Zimbabwe.

Course Announcement
The Philosophy Department is offering the following three courses in 2004-05 that are part of the anticipated ethics and development doctoral specialization. Contact the Philosophy department at 355-4490 for more details.

Fall 2004
PHL 485: Philosophy of Social Science MW 3:00 - 4:20 p.m.; Room 106B, Berkey Hall Instructor: Prof. Paul Thompson

PHL 486/HRT 486
Biotechnology in Agriculture: Ethical Issues (50% Africa focus). TuTh; 10:20 - 11:40 a.m.; Room A186 Plant & Soil Sci. Instructor: Prof. Fred Gifford and faculty in Horticulture

Spring 2005
PHL 491: Special Topics: Ethics and Development MW 10:20 - 11:40 a.m.; Room 112 Ernst Bessey Hall Instructor: Prof. Stephen L. Esquith

Course Announcement
AL 830: African American and African Studies I W; 4:10 - 7:00 p.m.; Room 105A Berkey Hall Instructor: Prof. Pero Dagbovie

This course is the first part of an interdisciplinary, year long, team-taught graduate seminar. It introduces students to the varied approaches to the study of African peoples in the field of African American Studies, provides a broad and vigorous examination of the Black experience in the United States, is a solid foundation for the more specialized curriculum awaiting doctoral students in African American and African Studies, and challenges students to think in new ways about the cultures, politics, and societies of African peoples.

To register, contact the African American and African Studies Program at 432-0869 or e-mail: northd@msu.edu


Fall 2004, Study Abroad Fair

The 15th Semi-annual Fall Study Abroad Fair will be held on Thursday, September 23rd from noon to 6:00 p.m. on the second floor of the MSU Union building.

The fair offers an opportunity to:

Talk with the program faculty about individual programs
Chat with students who have already participated See photos and artifacts from around the world Talk with academic advisers and financial aid reps Check with the MSU Travel Clinic about health issues
See who won the 2004 Spartans Abroad Photo Contest
Get passport photos taken ($10.60) Enter a raffle to win a gift certificate to the Spartan Bookstore

For more information contact the Office of Study Abroad; 109 International Center; Phone: 353-8920; or visit the web site at: http://studyabroad.msu.edu


New Associate Dean appointment

Congratulations to Dr. Assefa Mehretu who has been appointed as the College of Social Science Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs. Dr. Mehretu is a Core Faculty member in the African Studies Center. He will continue his current appointment as Director in the College of Integrative Studies.


MSU Faculty News

Dr. Sieglinde Snapp, Core faculty member with the African Studies Center, co-edited the following recently published book. Pound, B.S.S. Snapp, C. McDougal and A. Braun (Eds.) 2003."Uniting Science and Participation: Managing natural resources for sustainable livelihoods" Earthscan, U.K. and IRDC, Canada Details of the publication can be found at: http://web.idrc.ca/ev?ID=33998_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Use Policy Soji Adelaja, Ph.D., joined the MSU faculty in January 2004 as the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy. He holds joint appointments in the department of Agricultural Economics; department of Geography, and department of Community, Agricultural and Recreational Resource Studies and heads MSU's programs in land use and land policy.

Dr. Adelaja comes to MSU from Rutgers University where he served as Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Dean of Cook College, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension.


African Books Collective at MSU Press

A beautifully designed and produced picture biography of Wole Soyinka, published in honor of his 70th birthday in 2004. Soyinka, as a dramatist, poet, novelist, essayist, teacher, political activist and literary scholar, is perhaps Africa's most brilliant cultural ambassador and critic.

For further details about this publication, contact Justin Cox, African Books Collective North American Manager, MSU Press; (517) 355-9543, ext. 113 or visit the website at: www.msupress.msu.edu.


CONFERENCES

African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA) Call for Papers

The 38th Annual International Conference, hosted by the Africana Studies Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at Roanoke, Virginia, will be held October 7-9, 2004. The conference is open to the General Public.

AHSA invites abstracts for papers and panels addressing the conference theme: Scholar Activism in the African World Community, from multidisciplinary and world community perspectives. Presentations that address the themes as it relates to: social movements, revolutionary politics, economic development, comparative cross- cultural analysis, student and youth empowerment, social policy, the prison industrial complex, spirituality, creative production, aesthetics, social phenomena, identity, culture, social change, literature and health are particularly welcomed, as are those that employ or examine multiple methodological strategies, investigate various theoretical applications and/or consider issues of praxis.

Send all abstracts and inquiries by September 15, 2004

to: Dr. C.T. Rowley, c/o AHSA Abstracts, Africana
Studies Program, 672 McBryde (0137), Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA 24061; e-mail: ahsa2004@vt.edu.


Pre-registration deadline is September 24, 2004. For further details on registration fee and hotels, see the website at: http://www.contcd.vt.edu/ahsa/


FELLOWSHIPS

Alston/Bannerman Fellowships

The Alston/Bannerman Fellowships are annually awarded to ten organizers of color who have devoted their lives to helping their communities organize for racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.

Fellows receive $15,000 to take sabbaticals of three months or more for reflection and renewal. Fellows may use their sabbaticals in whatever way they think will best re-energize them for future work.

To qualify for a fellowship, applicants must be a person of color; have more than ten years of community organizing experience; be committed to continuing to work for social change; and live in the United States or its territories. While most fellows have been paid organizers, an applicant's work can be as a volunteer organizer or leader, or involve a mix of paid and unpaid work.

Beyond the basic eligibility criteria, the program seeks applicants whose work attacks root causes of injustice by organizing those affected to take collective action; challenges the systems that perpetrate injustice and effects institutional change; builds their community's capacity for self-determination and develops grassroots leadership; acknowledges the cultural values of the community; creates accountable participatory structures in which community members have decision-making power; and contributes to building a movement for social change by making connections between issues, developing alliances with other constituencies, and collaborating with other organizations.

For complete program information and application procedures, see the Alston/Bannerman Fellowship

Website: http://alstonbannerman.org/. The application
deadline is December 1, 2004.



GRANTS

International Science and Education Competitive Grants

The International Science and Education (ISE) Competitive Grants Program supports research, extension, and teaching activities that will enhance the capabilities of American colleges and universities to conduct international collaborative research, extension, and teaching. ISE projects are expected to enhance the international content of curricula; ensure that faculty work beyond the US and bring lessons learned back home; promote international research partnerships; enhance the use and application of foreign technologies in the US; and strengthen the role that colleges and universities play in maintaining US competitiveness. Eligible institutions are: 1862 Land-Grant Institutions; 1890 Land-Grant Institutions; 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; Private Institutions of Higher Education; and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education.

Proposals are due September 13, 2004, and the maximum grant is $100,000. Information on the program and a link to the RFA can be found at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum= 1240. Approximately $1.3 million will be made available in grants. Two major priorities are listed in the RFA, both of which could encompass extension activities:

1. Strengthening the Global Competence of Students, Faculty, and Staff in Agriculture and Related Areas (opportunities for training, curricular development. and participation in collaborative projects); and

2. Enhancing Business Performance in International Agriculture and Related Sectors (outreach to businesses and citizens about international trade/development).

Second National Conference on Internationalizing Extension As part of the National Initiative to Internationalize Extension, a Second National Conference is to be held on January 18-20, 2005, in Orlando, Florida. The conference will be held at the Grosvenor Resort and Hotel just across from Disney. The program will highlight the progress made across the USA as states move forward in internationalizing their extension services and programs. Mini-grantees will describe their projects, states will share materials and resources, and participants will explore strategies that enhance institutional and human capacity to bring an international and global perspective to US citizens and clientele. Opportunities will be available for projects to offer in-depth training sessions on-site. The date and venue for this conference has been planned with families in mind. Staff are encouraged to bring families along and visit the various entertainment options that Orlando has to offer


JOBS

Assistant or Associate Professor-Northwestern Univ.

Pending final approval, the Department of English seeks a second-term assistant or early associate professor in twentieth-century Anglophone African literature. Ideally the candidate should also have expertise in other Anglophone world literatures, post-colonial theory and/or feminist theory. The university is especially interested in candidates who work across national borders and combine a variety of critical methodologies.

The application deadline is September 15, 2004. Please send CV, a letter of application, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample to: Betsy Erkkila, Chair, Anglophone African Search Committee, Dept. of English, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208.



Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.

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