Africana Studies

Dickinson College

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Africana Studies

Africana studies examines the diverse experiences of people of African descent worldwide, focusing especially but not exclusively on African, African American and Caribbean affairs and culture. Using the tools of the social sciences and humanities, we investigate the structures, organizations, problems and perspectives of those of African origin and the African Diaspora.

Our mission is to advance the study and understanding of the historical as well as the contemporary connections among communities with people of African descent.

Experiential learning plays a large role in the Africana studies department, and majors are encouraged to go abroad. Students often spend six weeks at the Ethnographic Field School in Tanzania and in programs across Europe and Africa. Africana studies majors also engage domestic and global communities through Dickinson's Global Mosaics program, interdisciplinary research excursions designed around immersive ethnographic fieldwork. Recent Global Mosaics include "After Genocide and Apartheid" (Rwanda; 2019) and "The African Diaspora" (Cuba; 2018).

Chair: Jim EllisonAssociate Professor of Anthropology ellisonj@dickinson.edu
Department Coordinator: Mary Mollmollm@dickinson.edu

Phone

Fax

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Social Media

Location

Althouse Science Hall - Room G11 Mailing Address

Department Features

Study Abroad

Current Courses

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs

AmeriCorps/Vista
Teach for America
Deloitte
TEAM Charter Schools
Imagine Scholar
Ithaca College
NBC Universal
St. Thomas More School

Graduate Schools

Columbia University
State University of New York at Albany
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
University of Southern California
Northwestern University
Syracuse University
University of Georgia
CUNY, Hunter College
Georgetown University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Icahn School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
Fashion Institute of Technology

Where Our Students Have Interned

Cumberland County Courthouse
Food Trust
Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Internship Program
YWCA Carlisle
Exploration Schools at Yale University
Planned Parenthood Keystone
Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation
United Way of Pennsylvania
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
BRICK Peshine School

Student Perspective

"The skills, tools and knowledge that I have gained from being an Africana Studies major helps me in every area of my academic career as an undergrad. I know it will help me achieve my career goals in the future as well."

— Jena Blair '22

"At Dickinson, I've had the opportunity to immerse myself in the field of Africana Studies. I'm biased, but this department really has taught me so much about Black life and experiences along the diaspora, which has also contributed to me learning more about myself. Dickinson has given me the space to grow as a person and meet new people who push me to be better, and I will forever be grateful!"

— Krystal Ramierz '21

Africana Studies News

All News Department News

Recent Arts Residencies Explore Potent Themes Through Sight and Sound

Recent Arts Residencies Explore Potent Themes Through Sight and Sound

In recent weeks, Dickinson has welcomed visiting artists to campus to serve impactful residencies. Here's why that's so important for our arts students and for the whole college community.

Student Snapshot: Destiny McFalls

Student Snapshot: Destiny McFalls '25

"We should constantly work to better our world," says Destiny McFalls '25, who researched Black identity and activism at Dickinson and recently presented her findings.

Africana Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2021

Africana Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2021

Graduating Africana studies major will teach through Urban Teachers program while earning a master's of science education degree from johns Hopkins University.

Dickinson’s Upsilon Delta Honored for Work in the Community

Dickinson’s Upsilon Delta Honored for Work in the Community

The college's chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority takes runner-up among 63 regional chapters for its service work efforts.

Finding a Proud History

Finding a Proud History

Ke’son Bullock-Brown '19 discovers new pride by digging into history through Africana studies.

Africana Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2019

Africana Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2019

Graduating seniors secure jobs with Deloitte, Texas Southern University, Imagine Scholar and other employers.