From Campus to the World: Exploring History, Identity and Community
Student Snapshot: Kylie De La Cruz ’27
Kylie De La Cruz ’27 has used Dickinson’s liberal-arts curriculum to explore the histories, cultures and experiences that shape communities. Through Africana studies research, international travel, community engagement and mentorship, she has connected her academic interests to projects ranging from the history of Blackness in West Africa to the preservation of a historic Black cemetery in Carlisle.
Hometown:
Palo Alto, Calif.
High school:
Palo Alto Senior High School.
Majors:
Africana studies and American studies, with a minor in Spanish studies.
On my Dickinson experience:
The best thing about Dickinson is the people, especially the professors. I am constantly moved by how invested my professors are in the lives of their students: their accomplishments, hardships, wellbeing, weekend plans—everything. These relationships began with just one office-hours visit or five-minute chat after class. Now, they are my mentors and my support system.
Best thing about my major:
The best thing about my Africana studies major is how incredibly interdisciplinary it is. I have been able to connect African, African American and African/Black Diaspora history to classes across sociology, Spanish, film and media studies, American studies, history, education, English and geosciences. The theories and ideologies we learn about directly impact each of us; concepts such as race and capitalism shape our social interactions and how we understand ourselves.
On choosing Dickinson:
I chose Dickinson because of its commitment to a liberal-arts curriculum. I knew I wanted to study subjects like sociology, ethnic studies and race relations, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to major in. Dickinson’s flexibility allowed me to explore classes that interested me without feeling behind in finding a major or completing requirements.
Favorite class/learning experience:
My favorite project came out of my independent study with Professor Ball on the history of Ghana and the Gold Coast. For my final project, I created an interactive map called “Mapping Blackness” that provides a chronological and geographic timeline of the emergence of “Blackness” and “Whiteness” in West Africa. I analyzed primary texts by people born in West Africa who were enslaved or connected to the slave trade to explore the influence of the transatlantic slave trade on the formation of racial identities in the Black diaspora.
Favorite professor:
Professor Johnson, my Africana studies advisor and teacher, has supported me the most throughout my Dickinson career. She has helped shape the Africana studies department and, through her mentorship, inspired my love for the discipline. She is a passionate and ambitious scholar who brings those same qualities out in her students.
On traveling abroad:
I participated in the 2025 Ghana Mosaic [supported by the Churchills] and co-led the 2026 CCLA Guatemala service trip, presented research at the European Conference on African Studies in Prague and traveled to Grenada through funding from the Durden International Initiatives Fund. The highlight of each experience has been the people I was with, especially the students; after every trip, I returned with lifelong friends.
About my internships:
This summer, I interned with the Africana studies department, researching the post-independence history of tourism and economic development in Grenada. I then traveled to Grenada with professors Pawley, Su and Johnson to accompany them on site visits in preparation for the 2027 Grenada Mosaic. I learned about the importance of tourism to Grenada’s national identity and economy and gained experience in filmmaking; this December, I will work with my co-intern Ziya Brittingham to edit a mini-documentary about our research and experiences.
I also interned with the Popel Shaw Center, continuing research on the Craig Family Cemetery, a historic Black burial ground. I contributed to a TikTok series explaining the site’s historical significance and began constructing a family tree of the Craig family, researching relationships dating back to the mid-18th century.
About my research:
In summer 2025, I conducted research with Professor Forbes and another student following the Ghana Mosaic. We studied the sensory dimensions of sites of racial trauma, exploring how visitors’ senses were activated at the slave castles we visited in Ghana. We presented our research at the European Conference on African Studies in Prague.
Clubs and organizations:
Africana Studies Department Intern, Clarke Forum Student Co-Supervisor, Wheel and Chain, Africana Studies Student Advisory Committee, CCLA Service Trip Student Leader Corps, Alumni Weekend Ambassador, ACE Peer Mentor, Artsfest, Tree House, WDCV DJ/Radio Host and student researcher with Professor Jacquie Forbes.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
1783 Scholarship and Dean’s List.
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Published September 22, 2026