Welcome to the Africana Studies Institute

UConn’s Africana Studies Institute is a vibrant community of scholars who study the African American experience, Africa, and the African Diaspora. 

Learn more about the history of ASI

Moratorium, October 15, 1969. Students at the Vietnam War protest in front of the Student Union. (Howard Goldbaum Collection of Connecticut Daily Campus Negatives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library.)

What is Africana Studies?

Africana Studies is a field of study that is interdisciplinary in focus. The Institute teaches classes ranging from sociology, political science, history, and education among our diverse offerings. More specifically at UCONN, for decades we have trained our students to critically analyze the varied experiences of people of African descent globally and locally. We have a strong public history presence that focuses on Black people in New England and Connecticut that helps the program remain committed to the principles that Africana Studies was founded on, community engagement.

Why major or minor in Africana Studies?

It has become increasingly important to successive generations of students entering the workforce to develop and refine skills needed to practice cultural competence and critically analyze the varied experiences of African descended people in this country and around the world. The Africana Studies Institute offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a minor in Africana Studies, which provides a solid foundation for jobs in health care, law, education, journalism, government, and charitable, nonprofit organizations.

 

What we offer:

You will learn from some of UConn’s best teachers and mentors as well as trailblazers in their respective fields.

You will enhance your critical thinking, writing, analysis, and communication skills.

Opportunities to study abroad in Ghana and Kenya for course credit.

Faculty pairing: 1:1 academic advising, career mentoring, and research opportunities.

Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence in Africana Studies

30+
Undergraduate Majors

70+
Undergraduate Minors

16+
Core Faculty

26+
Affiliate Faculty

Undergraduate Advising

Three people seated on a beige couch in a library, surrounded by shelves filled with books. They are engaged in a study session with an open book and loose papers on a coffee table in front of them.

Major in Africana Studies

Dive into diverse cultures and histories of African descended people.

Explore the Major

 

Close-up of a bookshelf in a library with rows of books, and a blurred background of a reading area with tables and chairs.

Minor Options

The Institute offers two minors in Africana Studies and African Studies, coupled with study abroad opportunities in African countries.

 

Explore the Minors

ASI Staff and Dr. Molette at the Mollette Dinner 2023: A group of eight individuals stands in a line indoors for a photo, with one of them using a mobility aid, a walker. They are dressed in a mixture of formal and casual attire. The background features an exit sign above a door on the left.

Find a Professor

Explore our roster of faculty members and their areas of research expertise.

Explore our Faculty

IN THE NEWS

UConn Today: CLAS Connections: Fiona Vernal and Amanda Cannada

Feb 12, 2024

Five heartfelt minutes with Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies Fiona Vernal and Africana Studies Program Assistant Amanda Cannada.

Upcoming Events

Follow Us on Instagram!

uconnafricana

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Join us for An Africana Double Feature on November 13th 2:30pm! Dive into inspiring stories and insights with Dr. Dexter Gabriel, who balances life as a history professor by day and fiction author by night, and Dr. Marketa Burnett, as she shares her journey on thriving in Black girlhood. Don’t miss these thought-provoking talks at the African American Cultural Center, Student Union 407!

Open
Join us for An Africana Double Feature on November 13th 2:30pm! Dive into inspiring stories and insights with Dr. Dexter Gabriel, who balances life as a history professor by day and fiction author by night, and Dr. Marketa Burnett, as she shares her journey on thriving in Black girlhood. Don’t miss these thought-provoking talks at the African American Cultural Center, Student Union 407!

Join us for An Africana Double Feature on November 13th 2:30pm! Dive into inspiring stories and insights with Dr. Dexter Gabriel, who balances life as a history professor by day and fiction author by night, and Dr. Marketa Burnett, as she shares her journey on thriving in Black girlhood. Don’t miss these thought-provoking talks at the African American Cultural Center, Student Union 407! ...

The NAACP and Africana Studies Institute are throwing a Ballot and Bash on Wednesday, October 16th and is hoping to have the support and attendance of NPHC and the active organizations within it. This will be a bi-partisan event consisting of an educational debate amongst well-known alumni, followed by an after party with @djmorelifee and free food, outside on the student union lawn. The debate portion will take place from 6pm-7:15, and the after party will be from 7:15-9pm.

Open
The NAACP and Africana Studies Institute are throwing a Ballot and Bash on Wednesday, October 16th and is hoping to have the support and attendance of NPHC and the active organizations within it. This will be a bi-partisan event consisting of an educational debate amongst well-known alumni, followed by an after party with @djmorelifee and free food, outside on the student union lawn. The debate portion will take place from 6pm-7:15, and the after party will be from 7:15-9pm.

The NAACP and Africana Studies Institute are throwing a Ballot and Bash on Wednesday, October 16th and is hoping to have the support and attendance of NPHC and the active organizations within it. This will be a bi-partisan event consisting of an educational debate amongst well-known alumni, followed by an after party with @djmorelifee and free food, outside on the student union lawn. The debate portion will take place from 6pm-7:15, and the after party will be from 7:15-9pm. ...

Excited to announce that Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens will be featured in M Revolution, the first documentary on menopause, airing on PBS on October 17th. Don’t miss this important film that sheds light on an often overlooked topic. Tune in to PBS!

Open
Excited to announce that Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens will be featured in M Revolution, the first documentary on menopause, airing on PBS on October 17th. Don’t miss this important film that sheds light on an often overlooked topic. Tune in to PBS!

Excited to announce that Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens will be featured in M Revolution, the first documentary on menopause, airing on PBS on October 17th. Don’t miss this important film that sheds light on an often overlooked topic. Tune in to PBS! ...

Join us on October 8, 2024, for an insightful discussion on the significance of the November 6, 2024 election in U.S. history and politics. Three distinguished experts from the University of Connecticut will share their thoughts on what voters should pay attention to as they head to the polls. The panel will feature Evelyn M. Simien, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Africana Studies Institute; Manisha Sinha, James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History; and Chris Vials, Professor of English. Livestream will also be available!

Open
Join us on October 8, 2024, for an insightful discussion on the significance of the November 6, 2024 election in U.S. history and politics. Three distinguished experts from the University of Connecticut will share their thoughts on what voters should pay attention to as they head to the polls. The panel will feature Evelyn M. Simien, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Africana Studies Institute; Manisha Sinha, James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History; and Chris Vials, Professor of English. Livestream will also be available!

Join us on October 8, 2024, for an insightful discussion on the significance of the November 6, 2024 election in U.S. history and politics. Three distinguished experts from the University of Connecticut will share their thoughts on what voters should pay attention to as they head to the polls. The panel will feature Evelyn M. Simien, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Africana Studies Institute; Manisha Sinha, James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History; and Chris Vials, Professor of English. Livestream will also be available! ...

#ASI #UConn #SummerInstitute

We are excited to announce our 2024 Summer Institute to Advance Equity!

Scholars in many disciplines are grappling with how to advance equity through research on women and girls of color. They often strive to learn from those working outside of academia, to benefit from the insights of groups and organizations, and to give back to communities rather than extract from them. Unfortunately, relevant methods and research strategies are not yet widely taught at institutions of higher learning or sufficiently valued in the academy.

Link is below and in our bio:
Link: https://africana.uconn.edu/summer-institute-to-advance-equity/

Open
#ASI #UConn #SummerInstitute We are excited to announce our 2024 Summer Institute to Advance Equity! Scholars in many disciplines are grappling with how to advance equity through research on women and girls of color. They often strive to learn from those working outside of academia, to benefit from the insights of groups and organizations, and to give back to communities rather than extract from them. Unfortunately, relevant methods and research strategies are not yet widely taught at institutions of higher learning or sufficiently valued in the academy. Link is below and in our bio: Link: https://africana.uconn.edu/summer-institute-to-advance-equity/

#ASI #UConn #SummerInstitute

We are excited to announce our 2024 Summer Institute to Advance Equity!

Scholars in many disciplines are grappling with how to advance equity through research on women and girls of color. They often strive to learn from those working outside of academia, to benefit from the insights of groups and organizations, and to give back to communities rather than extract from them. Unfortunately, relevant methods and research strategies are not yet widely taught at institutions of higher learning or sufficiently valued in the academy.

Link is below and in our bio:
Link: https://africana.uconn.edu/summer-institute-to-advance-equity/ ...

#ASI #Africana #UConn #Fall24

Hi Huskies👋
Check this out!
Black Documentary Film Archival Practices is a course that examines how archives are deployed to tell Black diasporic narratives, historical and present-day representations, and the impact of these images. Throughout this course, students will sharpen their understanding of non-fiction aesthetics and modes of production through the construction of short-form archival-based media.
Coursework will provide students with tools to think independently about questions of representation, embedded biases, form, formats, and intended audiences through films, readings, and non-fiction multimedia. Students will further develop the skill to contextualize current events within a historical framework and hone their visual voices. We will interrogate authorship, accountability, and narrative ownership. This course will delve into tensions around access, formal considerations, and ethical usage of pre-existing material from various sources, including public institutions, private collections, stock footage libraries, YouTube, and social media.
For more information, contact Professor Martine Granby: martine.granby@uconn.edu

Open
#ASI #Africana #UConn #Fall24 Hi Huskies👋 Check this out! Black Documentary Film Archival Practices is a course that examines how archives are deployed to tell Black diasporic narratives, historical and present-day representations, and the impact of these images. Throughout this course, students will sharpen their understanding of non-fiction aesthetics and modes of production through the construction of short-form archival-based media. Coursework will provide students with tools to think independently about questions of representation, embedded biases, form, formats, and intended audiences through films, readings, and non-fiction multimedia. Students will further develop the skill to contextualize current events within a historical framework and hone their visual voices. We will interrogate authorship, accountability, and narrative ownership. This course will delve into tensions around access, formal considerations, and ethical usage of pre-existing material from various sources, including public institutions, private collections, stock footage libraries, YouTube, and social media. For more information, contact Professor Martine Granby: martine.granby@uconn.edu

#ASI #Africana #UConn #Fall24

Hi Huskies👋
Check this out!
Black Documentary Film Archival Practices is a course that examines how archives are deployed to tell Black diasporic narratives, historical and present-day representations, and the impact of these images. Throughout this course, students will sharpen their understanding of non-fiction aesthetics and modes of production through the construction of short-form archival-based media.
Coursework will provide students with tools to think independently about questions of representation, embedded biases, form, formats, and intended audiences through films, readings, and non-fiction multimedia. Students will further develop the skill to contextualize current events within a historical framework and hone their visual voices. We will interrogate authorship, accountability, and narrative ownership. This course will delve into tensions around access, formal considerations, and ethical usage of pre-existing material from various sources, including public institutions, private collections, stock footage libraries, YouTube, and social media.
For more information, contact Professor Martine Granby: martine.granby@uconn.edu ...

Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio
#uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies

Open
Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio #uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies

Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio
#uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies ...