Tuesday Bulletin for August 24th, 2010

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MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 08/24/10

Topics covered in this issue: Announcements | Other Announcements | Fellowships | Conferences | Jobs
Announcements
Fall Course Announcements

SOC 481 - Social Movements and Collective Identity. How do movements coalesce and build to the point where they create collective identity, and eventually collective action? Students who take this class will be exposed to the concepts behind social movements (what are the components of building movements, why do they form, when are they successful?). They will be exposed to the major types of social movements (the protest cycle, civil rights movement, and the anti-war movements of the 1960's; the women's movement; the gay and lesbian movement; the environmental movement; the new American right; the global justice movement). Students will also be exposed to the "real" social movements, as the class will have guest speakers, and students will be required to spend 5 hours working at a social movement organization in the greater Lansing area. They will be asked to employ methods of social research (interviews, content analysis, data analysis) in class projects on social movement.

For information, contact the instructor, Professor Stephen Gasteyer; e-mail: gasteyer@msu.edu.

HST 421 or WS 421 - Women and Gender in Africa

Tu/Th 10:20 AM - 11:40 AM, 122 Berkey Hall

Instructor: Professor Nwando Achebe

"Women and Gender in Sub-Saharan Africa" introduces students to the historical study of women and gender in sub-Saharan Africa. The course covers the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, highlighting the painful effects of European colonial and missionary encroachment on African women. Major themes (political, economic, religious and social) of African women's/gendered historical development will be identified and analyzed as they dialogue with, evolve, and/or transform during this period of intense contact. How did African women react and adjust to the new challenges brought about by this European invasion? The course will also familiarize students with current issues/dilemmas facing women in Africa today.

HST 484, Sec 002 - Women in the First Person: African [Auto]biography and Personal Narrative. Tu/Th 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM, 210A Berkey Hall

Instructor: Professor Nwando Achebe

The life history/autobiographical genre allows for an intimate look into women's lives by providing the most direct narrative enactment and immediate manifestation of the ways, the motives, and the beliefs, of a person within a culture. This course will explore the histories of particular African women/cultures through these personal narratives. "Women in the First Person" is as much a methods course. Much of the classroom time will be dedicated to the "practice of history." In other words how do scholars of Africa study/research African women? The class will familiarize themselves with and critically assess the myriad of sources and methods available for the reconstruction of women/gender history in Africa.

Prof. Achebe's e-mail address is achebe@msu.edu.

ENG 820, Sec 001 (cross-listed with AL891) - African and African Diaspora Feminist Theory, Literature, and Cinema. Mon. 4:00-7:00 p.m.

What do African American literature, cinema, and feminism have to do with African feminism, literature and cinema? Is there a Black feminism that encompasses that of the continent and that of the Black Diaspora, including Afro-Caribbean and African American cultures and peoples? Is there a commonality in the resistance of Black feminism to mainstream European or American feminist movements?

This course will explore the literature, film, and theoretical writings that engage the notion of a black feminism in a range of African, African American, and African Diaspora texts. The class will be reading a range of African feminist thinkers, including Nnaemeka, Oyewumi, Amadiume, and Boyce-Davies who sought to establish a notion of subjectivities characteristic of Black women in the Caribbean, Africa and the United States. Along with these thinkers, the class will explore a range of novels and plays by African, African Diaspora, and African American women authors who offer a basis for comparison and study of what contemporary notions of a Black feminism might entail.

For more information, contact Professor Ken Harrow at harrow@msu.edu.

CAS 992 - Globalization and the Media.

"Globalization" has gained so much currency in the popular imagination that just about everyone has a clear idea of what the term means. Thanks to media representations just about every issue – good or bad – is attributed partly to the influence of globalization. This doctoral seminar will explore the impact of globalization on media, and media representations of globalization. Through readings, discussions, case studies, and research students will examine the interface of globalization and media in governance, social relations, economics, culture, and diffusion of technology. An important component of the course is on how media shape representations of identity and how cultural groups use the media to shape their own identities. Students are expected to develop a research proposal, annotated bibliography, and present a case study on course topic. For more information, contact the instructor: Dr. Folu Ogundimu at: Ogundimu@msu.edu. Faculty Announcement

Congratulations to Dr. Lorraine Weatherspoon, professor and dietetics program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR)on receiving this year's Howard and Lili Ann Camden Endowed Creativity/Teacher/Scholar award. It is her unique ability to engage students that won her recognition as this year's award winner.

The award is given annually at the CANR Honors Banquet and recognizes a faculty member who's creative teaching goes above and beyond the call of duty. At Michigan State University she has taught more than 2,800 students with a unique approach that involves calling each student by name and using an interactive lecture method that enhances an open environment for shared ideas within the context of mutual respect. Africa Past and Present Podcast

"Africa Past and Present" is a podcast about history, culture, and politics in Africa hosted by Michigan State University historians Peter Alegi and Peter Limb. It is produced by MATRIX - The Center for Humane Arts, Letters, and Social Sciences Online at MSU (http://www.matrix.msu.edu). Listen and subscribe to the biweekly podcast at: http://afripod.aodl.org/. Michigan State University Africanist Graduate Student Conference

The 2010 Michigan State University Africanist Graduate Student Conference will be held October 8-9, 2010 on the campus of Michigan State University. This years' theme is: Emerging Perspectives in African Studies.

Detailed information can be found at the Conference's website: http://africa.msu.edu/gradconference or you can join their Facebook group: MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference. Other Announcements
Yale Journal of International Affairs

The Yale Journal of International Affairs (YJIA) is a graduate student-run academic journal that publishes articles, interviews, book reviews and op-eds by scholars, graduate students and policy practitioners on topics pertinent to current international affairs. Past contributors to YJIA include: Tony Blair, Paul Collier, Joseph Stiglitz, Ambassador John Negroponte, Mary Kaldor, Nancy Birdsall, and Steven Walt, among others. To view the online version past issues, please visit: www.yalejournal.org.

In the upcoming issue, the spotlight will be on Women. In recognition of the United Nations General Assembly's unanimous vote in July 2010 to establish the body, UN Woman, the Fall 2010 issue of the Yale Journal of International Affairs will include a special Spotlight on Women with the aim of contributing to academic and policy discussions concerning the enhancement of women's rights around the world. In this regard, submission! s that focus on international women's issues is encouraged. Approximately half of the Fall 2010 issue will be committed to the theme of women, thus YJIA will also consider submissions on other topics of international import.

Details about these submissions can be found online at: http://www.yalejournal.org/submissions.

Submissions for the upcoming issue must be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word documents to: mai.truong@yale.edu no later than October 31, 2010. Authors will be notified of the status of their submissions mid-November 2010. For further information, please contact: Mai Truong (mai.truong@yale.edu), Editor-in-Chief, Yale Journal of International Affairs, 34 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511; http://www.yalejournal.org. Fellowships
Fellowships & Internships at the Wilson Center

The Woodrow Wilson International Center ! for Scholars offers a number of residential fellowships for the study of Africa, and internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Unless otherwise noted, all awards are open to citizens of any country. Brief information about each of these fellowship programs, along with links to application materials and further details, can be found at: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/, click Programs, Africa Programs.

For more information and application guidelines, please contact the Center at: Tel: (202) 691-4170; Fax: (202) 691-4001; e-mail: fellowships@wilsoncenter.org. African Women Public Service Fellowship

The African Women Public Service Fellowship, made possible by a donation from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, offers African women the opportunity for graduate study at Wagner, to prepare them for public service in their home countries. Candidates must be citizens and residents in an African country at the time of application. Candidates must submit their application by January 7, 2011.

Please see Wagner's website for more information: http://wagner.nyu.edu/international/fellowships.php. Penn Humanities Forum- Postdoc Fellowships

The Penn Humanities Forum awards five one-year Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships each academic year to junior scholars in the humanities who are not yet tenured (may not be tenured during the fellowship year). The Fellowship carries an annual stipend of $46,500, plus health insurance and a $2,500 research fund, requires that the scholar spend the year in residence at the University of Pennsylvania, and is open to international applicants. The current Call for Applications is for the 2011-12 fellowship year. The topic will be "Adaptations." The application deadline is Friday, October 15, 2010, and applications will be accepted via online web-form only. Please see the following website for more information: http://humanities.sas.upenn.edu/applications/postdoc/cfa.shtml. Kay Postdoctoral Fellow - Brandeis University

Brandeis University invites applications for a two-year Kay postdoctoral fellow working on culture and politics in the francophone world, to begin in Fall 2011. Areas of interest could include, but are not limited to, legacies of colonialism and post-colonialism, literary and cultural representations of the immigration experience, or language, culture and politics in francophone countries. Every year, the fellow will teach one class in French in the French and Francophone Studies program, and another in English in the International and Global Studies Program and receive a stipend of $54,807, plus a research fund of $4,000.

Please send dossier, teaching materials, and three letters of recommendation to Michael Randall, Chair, Kay Fellowship Search Committee, Shiffman 102, MS 024, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454-9110. First consideration will be given to applications received by December 1, 2010. Conferences
Black Religion & Spirituality in the 21st Century

Throughout our history in the Americas, African Americans have entrenched/devoted themselves in/to issues of justice and engagement. The 5th Annual Black Religion & Spirituality (BRS) Conference, to be held in East Lansing, Michigan, October 13-15, 2010, affords opportunities to explore these issues in a public forum. The theme is "Black Religion and Spirituality: Implications for Social Justice and Community Engagement." This conference will focus on the diversity of faiths among African Americans and how they are addressing challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.

Featured speakers include: Mrs. Juanita O. Abernathy, Civil Rights Activist; Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang, Howard University; Dr. Carl Tayler; Mi! chigan State University; Reverend Dr. Michael C. Murphy, Pastor Peoples United Church of Christ; Dr. Yvonne Delke, Executive Director Community Renewal Society of Chicago; Earl Nelson Singers, Nationally Famed Choir; and the Michigan State University Gospel Choir.

For more information, contact Dr. Smith at gsmith@msu.edu. Registration fee prior to October 10, 2009 will be $100 per person, $50.00 for students. On-site registration will be $125.00 per person. Registrations should be mailed to: Black Religion & Spirituality (BRS) Conference, Dr. Gloria S. Smith, Chairman, Room 1 Morrill Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Africa in World Politics - Univ. of Texas, CFP

Scholars are invited to submit conference papers and full panel proposals for the 2011 conference to be held at the University of Texas at Austin, March 25-27, 2011 on the theme: Africa in World Politics. The goal of this conference is to create an interdisciplinary dialogue concerning Africa's contemporary and historical place in world politics. Africa is too often regarded as being on the periphery of the world political arena, when in fact the nations of Africa have played an important, although often tactically manipulated, role in global affairs.

What was Africa's historical place in world politics? How did independence and the Cold War change this locality? What is Africa's role today and what needs to be done to insure that the African voice is heard in international forums in the future? For potential paper topics and complete conference details, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/2011/11CallforPapers.htm. The deadline for submitting paper proposals is November 31, 2010.

This conference also has a commitment to professional development which will be fostered through workshops in writing, publishing, and conference presentation. The conference will also provide ample time for professionals from various disciplines and geographical locations to interact, exchange ideas, and receive feedback. Graduate students are especially encouraged to attend and present papers and will be partnered with a senior scholar to encourage their own growth as scholars.

A mandatory non-refundable registration fee of $100 for scholars and $65 for graduate students must be paid immediately when an abstract is accepted. This conference fee includes admission to the panels, workshops, and special events, as well as transportation to and from the conference from the hotel, breakfast for three days, dinner on Friday night and a banquet on Saturday evening. The Peace Corps & Africa - Univ. of Wisconsin

The African Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will be hosting a conference on the Peace Corps and Africa from March 24-26, 2011. The intent of the conference is to explore the impacts of the! United States Peace Corps in Africa and elsewhere, and on the lives of Americans who have served as volunteers or have been otherwise touched by the Peace Corps. Timed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps (launched in March 1961) and of Wisconsin's African Studies Program (founded in September 1961), the conference will include opportunities for celebrating, reminiscing, and socializing (there will be a keynote address by Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, story booths, the ultimate Peace Corps dance party in Memorial Union, etc.), but the core of the conference will be several evaluative panels featuring research and commentary by scholars and writers bringing a variety of perspectives on the Peace Corps and the experience of volunteer service. To express tentative interest in attending the conference, or to inquire about it, please send an email message to: events@africa.wisc.edu and use the subject header, "Interested in Attending." For more details on the call for papers, visit: http://africa.wisc.edu.

Conference registration will be an on-line process commencing in about September or October, 2010, but the event coordinators are eager to gauge national (and international) interest now. Blocks of hotel rooms have been set aside, and former Peace Corps volunteers in Madison are ready to put up guests at no charge. 4th Annual MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference

The fourth annual Africanist graduate student research conference at Michigan State University to be held October 8-9, 2010, will focus on the theme, "Emerging Perspectives in African Studies." This theme is meant to inspire graduate students focusing on African Studies, to explore new methodological, theoretical and topical directions among their peers and future colleagues. By doing so at MSU, on e of the nation's first African Studies Centers, the organizers hope graduate students will acknowledge their debt to tho! se who have gone before them even as they work toward developing new perspectives in African studies. The purpose of the conference is to provide an opportunity for graduate students to discuss their research, receive constructive feedback, network with other students and scholars, and sharpen presentation skills in a comfortable and relaxed environment. The conference is interdisciplinary and open to students at all levels of their graduate careers.

More information can be found at the Conference's website: http://africa.msu.edu/gradconference; e-mail: msuasgc@msu.edu or join the Graduate Student Facebook group: MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference. Jobs
Assistant Professor - University of Maryland

The Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland is seeking an instructor to teach two undergraduate courses during the 2010 fall semester. One is an African Politics course, and the other is a Religion and Politics seminar. Both courses are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Ideal candidates will hold a Ph.D. or be near completion. Some teaching experience is a plus. Interested candidates should e-mail: jmccauley@gvpt.umd.edu. Assistant Prof. - California State Univ., Northridge

The Department of Pan African Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has an opening for a tenure track position in Comparative Diaspora Studies and Research Methods. Specifically, academic expertise in one or more of the following fields is desired: African American Studies, Comparative African Diaspora Studies, Comparative Psychology, Sociology or other closely-related disciplines. Applicants must have Ph.D. at the time of appointment and evidence of this will be required. The department seeks a candidate with demonstrated excellence or potential for excellence in teaching, scholarly research, and professional and community service. Grant-writing experience is also highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to teach and mentor a diverse student population is essential.

Review of applications will begin October 15, 2010, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. A complete application must contain a letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and if available, evidence of teaching evaluations and scholarship. At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States.

Inquiries and nominations should be addressed to: Dr. Karin Stanford, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Department of Pan African Studies, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8315. African Environmental Studies - Kalamazoo College

The Director of the African Studies Program at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan is looking for ABD or new PhD students to teach a new course, African Environmental Studies, that deals with contemporary environmental issues in Africa. The department is willing to take a suitable candidate from the natural or social sciences. In addition to pay for teaching the course, they will also pay for mileage to cover commuting costs. The course will be taught Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those interested and for further details, please contact Dr. Joseph Bangura immediately at Tel: (269) 337-5785, e-mail bangura@kzoo.edu.

from MSU African Studies Center <africa@msu.edu>

date Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 12:15 PM
subject Tuesday Bulletin for August 24th, 2010

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

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