Africana Studies
- Department Interdisciplinary
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Minor
Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that examines the culture and experiences of African peoples and those who make up the African Diaspora throughout the world. Relevant courses come from a variety of disciplines, including literature, history, sociology, economics, politics, art and music.
Africana Studies at W&L
Students interested in global history or politics, the Atlantic world, international law, international relations, world economics, African-American studies, comparative literature and Africa should consider this program.
Annually, the program brings noted speakers to campus, sponsors multiple student and faculty events, and supports university efforts to offer a more diverse and rich curriculum that accurately reflects and represents the cultural complexity of Africa and the African Diaspora.
Each student completing the minor in Africana Studies produces a senior capstone project. In this capstone, students pursue in-depth and detail a subject that particularly captivates them, usually something they have studied in one of their courses in the program.
DeLaney Center to Open its 2024-25 Screen to Square Film Series with ‘The Color Purple’
This year’s first film will be screened on Oct. 15 in Stackhouse Theater.
Pelzer has enjoyed connecting with others with shared interests through the Gaming Club, University Singers, SABU and the Office of Sustainability.
Associate Professor Catarina Passidomo ‘04 to Present DeLaney Center Dialogue Discussion
Passidomo will use her essay “Rooted in Sand: A Reflection on Teaching and Tomatoes” to explore “Tomatoes and Southern Racial Realities.”
Diego Millan Receives the Jack Rosenbalm Prize for American Humor
The assistant professor of English and Africana studies was cited for his article on Chester Himes’ book ‘If He Hollers Let Him Go.’
Nneka Dennie Receives Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders Award
The assistant professor of history is one of 10 faculty members nationwide to win the prestigious award.
From Screen to Square Film Screening: ‘The Watsons Go to Birmingham’
The Juneteenth screening is the final installment of the 2023-24 Screen to Square series and will feature a panel of local students.
Washington and Lee Names Four Faculty Members to Endowed Professorships
These faculty have been recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and service to the university.
W&L Hosts 19th Annual Tom Wolfe Weekend
The weekend’s seminar will feature Tess Gunty discussing her debut novel, “The Rabbit Hutch.”
Assistant Professor Nneka Dennie to Deliver DeLaney Center Dialogue Lecture
Dennie will present her research on “Southern Black Feminisms at the Turn of the Century” March 20 in the Watson Galleries.
Professor Nneka Dennie to Discuss Her Recent Book on Black Newspaper Editor Mary Ann Shadd Cary
The assistant professor of history will hold her talk on Feb. 7 at noon in the Harte Center Gallery.
From Screen to Square Film Screening: ‘Till’
The upcoming screening is the second installment in the DeLaney Center’s ongoing film series and will be shown on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater.
DeLaney Center Receives Grant from Virginia Humanities
An award of $9,500 will support the center’s Screen to Square film series.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Michael D. Hill
Professor and Program Head of Africana Studies
- P: 540-458-8327
- E: mhill@wlu.edu
Hill is a scholar of African-American culture, literature and history. He previously taught at the University of Iowa and Wake Forest University.
Adedayo (Dayo) Abah
Provost Faculty Fellow and Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications
- P: 540-458-8077
- E: abahd@wlu.edu
Abah teaches courses on communications law, news media, crisis communication, and international communication. Her research areas include online anonymous speech, international defamation law, copyright issues, Nollywood in African cinema, women and Nollywood, religion and the media, and immigrant media use.
Henryatta Ballah
Assistant Professor of History
Ballah’s teaching and research focus on 19th and 20th century Africa. Her book project explores the political activism of Liberian youth from 1950 to 2010.
Niels-Hugo (Hugo) Blunch
Darrold and Kay Cannan Term Professor of Economics
- P: 540-458-8619
- E: blunchn@wlu.edu
Blunch teaches econometrics and health economics, and also takes students to Ghana for study abroad. His research pertains to health, education and labor market issues. Previously, Blunch worked with the World Bank and the United Nations.
Lynn G. Chin
Associate Professor of Sociology
- P: 540-458-8791
- E: chinl@wlu.edu
Chin teaches courses on power and status, health and inequality, and other unique topics in sociology. Her research focuses on group processes and social psychology.
Nneka Dennie
Assistant Professor of History
- P: 540-458-8963
- E: ndennie@wlu.edu
Professor Dennie is a Black feminist scholar specializing in African American intellectual history. Her courses examine race and gender in the United States and the Caribbean. She is currently writing two books about 19th century Black women thinkers.
Melissa Gualtieri
Administrative Assistant
Serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Sociology and Anthropology Department, Education Studies Program, and Africana Studies Program.
Lena Hill
Provost and Professor of English
- P: 540-458-8746
- E: lmhill@wlu.edu
In addition to her many duties as Provost, Hill researches and teaches courses primarily in 19th- and 20th-century African-American literature. She has written a number of books and articles on the subject.
Mohamed Kamara
Department Head and Professor of Romance Languages; Campus Muslim Student Advisor
- P: 540-458-8475
- E: kamaram@wlu.edu
Professor Kamara holds degrees in French, English and Secondary Education. He teaches French courses in the Department of Romance Languages and also teaches in the university’s Africana Studies Program. As faculty advisor to campus Muslim students and the W&L African Society, he is a member of the Religious Staff in the Office of Inclusion and Engagement.
Diego Millan
Assistant Professor of English and Core Faculty in Africana Studies
- P: 540-458-8759
- E: dmillan@wlu.edu
Millan teaches upper-level courses in black diasporic literature. He has researched 19th- and 20th-century American and African-American literature and culture, black studies, performance studies, and theories of laughter and comedy.
Lucas Morel
Department Head, John K. Boardman, Jr. Professor of Politics
- P: 540-458-8161
- E: morell@wlu.edu
Morel has taught at W&L since 1999. His teaching and research interests include American government, political theory, Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Ellison, and race and equality. He is a pre-law advisor and an accomplished writer.
Stephanie Sandberg
Assistant Professor of Theater/Film
Sandberg teaches courses on screenwriting, documentary filmmaking and an ethnographic study of modern-day slavery in Ghana. Her current research focuses on theater for social justice.
Leslie Wingard Cunningham
Associate Provost for Faculty Development and Professor of English and Africana Studies
As Associate Provost, Wingard Cunningham serves as a member of the provost's leadership team, working to cultivate a coordinated, intentional and robust effort to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion across Academic Affairs.