Message from the Co-Directors
Dear Friends of the CAS,
We are thrilled to serve as the inaugural faculty co-directors of the Center for Africana Studies. This initiative stemmed from numerous ongoing conversations and the long-term efforts of several of our colleagues across campus. For this reason, we are humbled and honored to co-lead the CAS as it grows in this early stage.
As scholars whose expertise and research focus on the histories of Africans on the continent and African-descended people in the Diaspora, we recognize the importance of fostering interdisciplinary research and engaging in cross-disciplinary dialogue with colleagues and stakeholders interested in broadening their knowledge about Africa and the experiences of African-descended people in the Diaspora. We have, therefore, prioritized establishing CAS as a space that brings together a variety of perspectives and understandings about Africa and the Diaspora across different contexts and time periods.
In our capacities as faculty co-directors, we are proud to have hosted and co-sponsored an array of programmatic initiatives on and off campus. This year, CAS has organized events such as Dr. Nicosia Shakes’ presentation of her new book, Women’s Activist Theatre in Jamaica and South Africa and Dr. Kevin Dawson's session, Open Water: Afroaquatics and History, at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association. We also collaborated with UCM's Public Health Program to co-sponsor Dr. Ryan Petteway's presentation, "Resistance, Rememory, & Refusal: Toward a Social Epi of 'Radical Possibility." These events, among others, showcase the multidisciplinary approach of CAS and its goal of centering the experiences of Africans and African-descended people across the Diaspora. The Center’s events and activities have resonated with our students, faculty, staff, and members of the Merced community, putting CAS into the public’s consciousness and onto the radars of influential campus collaborators. Indeed, this year’s initiatives have allowed us to lay a solid foundation for the Center and moved us seemingly forward in our efforts to establish CAS as a formidable forum that scholars and students can turn to in order to deepen their understanding of Africa and the Diaspora.
As we continue to grow, we invite you to support us – by joining our listserv, following us on Instagram (@ucmcas) and Facebook, and helping to share our updates. We wish you a smooth ending to the academic year and pleasant summer break, and look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Muey Saeteurn
Sabrina Smith
