Events Spotlight Africa, Including Duquesne’s Involvement

The Center for African Studies, in collaboration with other departments on campus, will host a series of events to improve understanding of Africa and how students and faculty are engaged there through studies, research, service and teaching.

“We talk about understanding the world and being global citizens, and these events will provide a realistic picture of that means, especially in regard to engaging Africa,” said Dr. Gerald Boodoo, director of the Center for African Studies.

The events kick off with Mother Symbol and Africana Women’s Religious Practices of Peacebuilding, a lecture presented by Dr. Dianne Diakité, associate professor of religion and African-American studies at Emory University, on Tuesday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m. in the Pappert Lecture Hall of the Bayer Learning Center. The event is co-sponsored by the Rev. Pierre Schouver, C.S.Sp., Endowed Chair in Mission and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.

“Dr. Diakité will talk about how mothering is used as a symbol in Africa to consider and practically work for peace in our society and in our relationships,” Boodoo explained.

Susan C. Hascall, assistant professor of law, and Dr. Emad Mirmotahari, assistant professor of English, will respond to the lecture from different perspectives.

On Wednesday, March 13, the Center for the Catholic Intellectual Tradition will present Building Relationships with Africa: Evolving Foundations for Research, Teaching and Service. Dr. Anne Marie Hansen, assistant occupational therapy professor and a Paluse Faculty Research Grant winner, will share stories from her decades of professional experience in Africa, including her work leading graduate students and faculty on an international service-learning experience in Tanzania.

Building Relationships with Africa, which begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Seifert Suite of the Union, also will feature Drs. Lisa Lopez Levers and Rodney Hopson, both of the School of Education. The professors will share stories of their own experiences in Africa.

“They’ll talk about how their work in Africa has enriched their research, teaching and scholarship,” Boodoo said. “The goal is to show how engaging Africa actually benefits the work we do as faculty.”

In addition to the Center for African Studies, Building Relationships with Africa is co-sponsored by the Center for Spiritan Studies, the Office of International Programs, the Office of Mission and Identity, the Office of Research, the Office of Service-Learning and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

A student forum showcasing the experiences of students who have traveled to Africa during their time at Duquesne will be held on Thursday, March 14, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 611 of Fisher Hall.

Jeremy Feight, an undergraduate in the music school, will discuss his semester abroad at the University of Ghana, and Shelby Sharpnack, a graduate student studying forensic science, will recount her summer experience serving at an orphanage in Ghana.

“It’s a chance for other students to learn firsthand how engaging with Africa can enhance their learning and improve career opportunities,” Boodoo said.

For more information on Mother Symbol and Africana Women’s Religious Practices of Peacebuilding or the student forum, call 412.396.1929. For more information on Building Relationships with Africa, call 412.396.1595.