MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 07/22/08

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Tuesday Bulletin for July 22nd, 2008
Topics covered in this issue: Announcements | Other Announcements | Conferences | Jobs

Announcements

MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference - September 26-27, 2008 - Call for Papers (See CONFERENCES below)

Michigan State University graduate students and the African Studies Center at MSU are hosting a conference on the theme "Knowledge of Africa: New Researchers and the Next Fifty Years" with the intent to foster an engaging atmosphere in which graduate students can discuss their research and receive important feedback. The conference is interdisciplinary and open to students at all levels of their graduate careers. The committee hopes to receive submissions that present research proposals, research designs, dissertation or thesis chapters, methodological models, work in progress, outlines of dissertation and preliminary research findings. Michigan State University has over 175 faculty members that focus on Africa and some faculty will serve as discussants in the hope that they will offer constructive feedback to participants. The conference is also designed to help prepare students (those who will be the career Africanists of the next fifty years), who will present at the 2008 African Studies Association Meeting "Knowledge of Africa: The Next Fifty Years" to be held in Chicago.

Abstracts are due August 29, 2008. Please e-mail submissions to: msuasgc@msu.edu. Abstracts should include the author's name, address, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number. A $20 conference fee can be paid online through the Conference website upon abstract acceptance.

The conference will be held September 26-27, 2008 at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. More information can be found at the Conference's website: http://africa.msu.edu/gradconference. Questions can be addressed to the conference organizers at msuafcon@msu.edu.

Faculty Announcements - Two Spartans honored as `Michiganians of the Year' MSU osteopathic physician Margaret Aguwa has been honored by the Detroit News as among the newspaper's "Michiganians of the Year" for 2007. She was one among 11 prominent Michiganians to receive the honor. The News selects its recipients based on those who "exemplify excellence, courage, philanthropy and simple acts of kindness that uplift not only the metro area, but the entire state of Michigan." Aguwa was selected because she has "worked tirelessly to encourage members of minority and nontraditional groups to take responsibility for their own health and to consider careers in the medical field." Among Aguwa's accomplishments is the production of a video – "Breast Self-Examination: A Touch of Life" – that has been extensively used by medical students, physicians and patients.

A 13-year breast cancer survivor, Aguwa is a professor of family and community medicine and also serves as the College of Osteopathic Medicine's associate dean for community outreach and clinical research. Dr. Aguwa is also a member of the African Studies Center Core faculty. See the full article at:http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080531/METRO/805310321. See http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/METRO/80530001/0/METRO&template=theme&theme=METRO-MICHIGANIANS for others who have received the award, including Ron Mason, long-time MSU hockey coach and athletic director.

New Edited Book by Peter Limb (MSU Library) Peter Limb's new edited book, "Orb and Sceptre: Studies on British Imperialism and its Legacies, in Honour of Norman Etherington" (Monash University ePress/Sydney University Press, 2008), http://purl.library.usyd.edu.au/sup/9780980361667 highlights cutting-edge approaches from cultural studies to biography and landscape studies, as well as political, intellectual and immigration history. It reflects the trajectory of British Empire history in the academy over the last forty years. Demands for new nationalist histories for decolonised territories have combined with renewed attention to the role of the periphery in the making and unmaking of empires. This has formed an explosive mix that has blown apart traditional conceptions of Empire history. The colonial construction of knowledge is a principal theme. Norman Etherington (PhD Yale) is a prominent historian of South Africa, missions, and Empire.

Mali in Michigan

Art, Religion, & Politics in the 21st Century, (various exhibits begin September 2008) Visual Griots Photo-Voice Exhibit -- September 15, 2008 - March 15, 2009

This exhibit of photos by Malian youths is on loan to the MSU Museum from the Smithsonian and is curated by Shawn Davis. The exhibit will involve outreach and civic engagement activities, especially with Lansing, Mason, and Lansing Special Education classrooms. The exhibition at the MSU Museum is supported by the Residential College in Arts and Humanities (RCAH) and L.A.T.T.I.C.E. (Linking All Types of Teachers in International Cross-Cultural Education). The exhibit is open to the public.

Threads of Change: The Transformation of African Textiles Exhibit - January 18, 2009 - August 30, 2009

Curated by Chris Worland, this exhibit of West African traditional and contemporary fabrics at the MSU Museum will include the work of three guest Artists-in-Residence (Kandioura Coulibaly and Boubacar Doumbia of Groupe Kasobane in Mali and American Janet Goldner) who will also participate in Chris's spring 2009 Fabric Art Workshop and in several community outreach and engagement projects. The exhibit is open to the public. For more information contact: C. Kurt Dewhurst 355-2370, dewhurs1@msu.edu or Marsha MacDowell 355-6511, macdowel@msu.edu.

Islamic Manuscripts of Tombouctou Photography Exhibit -- September 28-October 11, 2008

These photographs by Alexandra Huddleston will be in the Residential College in Arts and Humanities (RCAH) LookOut! Gallery. The exhibit is open to the public. For more information, contact: Juan Alvarez - 355-7678, jalvarez@msu.edu.

Congratulations to Cheikh Babou
Cheikh Babou (MSU PhD 2002) has just been tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in the History Department at the University of Pennsylvania. His book, "Fighting the Greater Jihad," came out last fall and is attracting very positive reviews. Dr. Cheikh Babou may be reached by e-mail at baboucheikh@gmail.com.

Many congratulations!

Other Announcements

The Whisper Campaign- Drive for Darfur Rally The Whisper Campaign of Lansing invites you to their version of the Amazing Race on Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 4:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m. Visit http://www.active.com/donate/CivilianProtection for more information about the Drive for Darfur Road Rally. All monies raised will be donated to Genocide Intervention Network and their Civilian Protection Project which helps protects women and children from rape and assault. If you have questions please contact Tashmica Torok at 517-749-3128 or e-mail: glassb0x@thewhispercampaign.org.

Walk for Congolese Women - Grand Rapids, MI Humanity for Africa, Inc. and the African Community Center of Michigan is organizing the first annual WALK FOR CONGOLESE WOMEN to support the work of Women for Women International and PANZI Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The goal is to raise $10,000 or more. The walk will take place on August 23, 2008 at 11 am in Grand Rapids- Michigan.

Due to ongoing terrorization by numerous militias, Congolese women currently suffer systematic rape, torture, displacement, and abuse. They are often later shunned by their families, leaving them and their children with nowhere to turn. Women for Women International gives these women a chance to rebuild their lives and help others through this process by becoming leaders within their communities.

In support of this effort to help end the violence against the Congolese women, please call, e-mail, or stop by the African Community Center Office – 1019 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids Michigan 49506; Tel: (616) 248-3552; Fax: (616) 248-3553; e-mail: humanity.africa@sbcglobal.net to get pledge sheets and further information on participation. Donations may also be made directly. Make payable to Humanity for Africa, Inc., and mailed to: Humanity for Africa, P.O. Box 7854, Grand Rapids, MI 49510.

Conferences

U.S.

Africa Sister Cities Conference, Lansing, MI - July 23-26, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel The U.S. -Africa Sister Cities Conference features four days of business, motivational, health, cultural and informational activities, speakers and workshops designed to bring new levels of understanding between the people of the United States of America and the people of African nations. The conference theme: "Building Alliances with the New Africa" is a chance to learn from top leaders in various field of importance in "Building Alliances" between our nations. Participants may register for the entire conference, one or two days or just for the African Ball Gala.

For information on the conference and registration see: http://www.lansingsc.org/pages/Africanconference.cfm

To register by mail, send the registration form with a check or money order to: Convention Management Services, U.S.-Africa Sister Cities Conference, 500 Business Center Drive, Lansing, MI 48917, USA.

MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference -- September 26-27, 2008 - Call for Papers Michigan State University graduate students and the African Studies Center at MSU are hosting a conference on the theme "Knowledge of Africa: New Researchers and the Next Fifty Years" with the intent to foster an engaging atmosphere in which graduate students can discuss their research and receive important feedback.

More information can be found at the Conference's website: http://africa.msu.edu/gradconference. Questions can be addressed to the conference organizers at msuafcon@msu.edu. (See MSU Announcements on page one for more details).

2008 African Studies Association Meetings The 51st Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association is November 13-16, 2008 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers in Chicago, IL. Visit: http://www.africanstudies.org/?page=annual_meeting_current for details.

Jobs

VOLUNTEERS for Rwanda - Miracle Corners of the World - Local Change Through Global Exchange Miracle Corners of the World (MCW) is looking for 1-2 volunteers to spend 4-6 months in Ntarama, Rwanda beginning August/September 2008. Start and end dates are flexible.

Her/his overall responsibility will be to continue the development and launch operations of an approximately 400sm multi-functional community center. Volunteer(s) will specifically be responsible for: (1) continuing to build and train a Youth Leadership Team; (2) continuing to build an Advisory Board; (3) working with the team to design syllabi for the centers educational activities; (4) supervising the construction of the community center; and (5) preparing the center to operate smoothly beyond construction. Volunteer(s) will report directly to the MCW Associate Executive Director of International Field Programs and will also work closely with the Miracle Corners Rwanda (MCR) Planning Committee, Advisory Board, Youth Leadership Team, and other stakeholders. Volunteer(s) will communicate regularly with Jacqueline Murekatete, MCW Fellow and Director of MCW Partner Initiative, Jacquelines Human Rights Corner (the initiative responsible for the Rwanda center). Candidates are organized, self-motivated, reliable, enthusiastic, confident, target-driven, able to work independently and collaboratively, able to meet strict deadlines, and comfortable handling multiple tasks. Candidates possess an undergraduate degree, construction knowledge, experience working abroad in community development, and excellent team-building, project management, and communication skills.

MCW will cover the costs for housing, security, work-related email and phone, and select other work-related expenses. Volunteer(s) are responsible for airfare, vaccinations, travel medical and emergency evacuation insurance, and other costs. To apply, please e-mail a resume and letter of interest to: Alfred Hanssen, Associate Executive Director of International Field Programs at: alfie@miraclecorners.org.

Successful candidates will work closely with the MCW team to develop a detailed work plan. Miracle Corners of the World (MCW) was founded in 1999, it is a non-profit organization serving youth worldwide, primarily through leadership, community development, and healthcare programs. For more information, visit http://www.miraclecorners.org/.

Three Lecturers

(Swahili, Yoruba, Zulu) - UCLA Pending funding, UCLA's Center for World Languages and the program in African Languages seeks three Lecturers for the 2008-09 academic year (mid-September through mid-June), in Swahili, Yoruba and Zulu. Each position is a one year appointment with possibility of renewal. Due to the short nature of this appointment, UCLA will not be able to sponsor H1 visa holders.

Each lecturer will teach eight courses per year: six language courses (i.e. 2 levels per quarter) and two additional courses in culture, literature or applied linguistics. Course releases may be given for administrative duties or production of teaching materials. Additional teaching opportunities may be available during the Summer, with a separate summer salary, but are not guaranteed. Applicants must have superior proficiency in the target language, hold an MA in a related field, and have experience teaching the target language as a second/foreign language. Experience with heritage students, curriculum development, and/or materials development is a plus.To apply, please send a cover letter describing teaching experience and philosophy, a CV, a summary of teaching evaluations, and two letters of recommendation to: Dr. Katrina Thompson, Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics, African Languages Coordinator, African Studies Center, Chair, Interdepartmental Program in African Studies, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), 10389 B Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095; or e-mail: kdthompson@humnet.ucla.edu; Tel: 310-794-1972; Fax: (310) 206-2250.Positions will remain open until filled. Review of applications begin August 1, 2008. UCLA is an equal opportunity employer. Women and under-represented group applicants are encouraged to apply.

from MSU African Studies Center <Africa@msu.edu> date Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 3:31 PM
subject Tuesday Bulletin for July 22nd, 2008