Africana Studies Student Research & Independent Studies

Dr. Campbell and other professors in the Africana Studies Department supervise and guide student research, community projects, and directed readings. Students who undertake independent research realize that their responsibility is twofold of all, they are enrolled in an academic credit earnings course, Directed Readings in Africana Studies (AFA 391, 1-3 credits). Thus, students, upon completion of their semester's work, provide documentation of expended effort commensurate with the individual initiative central to the notion of independent scholarship. The role of the professor is that of guide and reference person and evaluator of the final product produced by the student. Students and professors share in the communication process of providing and receiving progress on the project.

Many students present their final research projects at local and national scholarly association meetings. The Meeting of the Minds: The Sharing of Ideas on Collaborative Efforts in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, has provided a forum for many Africana Studies students to present their work.

The following selected list of titles of student papers have been presented at the Meeting of the Minds conferences. Abstracts are available in the Africana Studies Department Office.

Clara Blakely with Carolyn Campbell, "From Sharecropping to Urbanization: A Study of One Family's Resistance to Sharecropping"

Kerry L. Donnelly with Carolyn Campbell, "Ebonics: The Classroom Teacher's Responsibility for Student Success"

Katrina Dunigan with Carolyn Campbell, "Africana Women Prisoners and Their Unintended Victims- Their Children"

Sonja Annette Gant with Carolyn Campbell, "The Plight of Africana Students in A "Multicultural" Educational Environment"

Stephon Kennedy with Carolyn Campbell, "Surpassing Obstacles: Reproductive Labor in One Africana Family"

William Purcell with Carolyn Campbell, "A Little Bit of White Privilege Goes A Long Way: A Personal Journey of Coming to See Whiteness Through Work in Black Family Studies"

Research and creative projects are open to all students and fulfill the social science or humanities general education requirement. If you are interested in more information about this and other projects and activities, please call the African Studies Department (810)762-3353 or email Dr Carolyn Campbell.

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