The National Council for Black Studies and the Ford Foundation are pleased to announce a two and a half day Institute for students currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Africana Studies or related disciplines (Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education). The Institute is open to U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, and ten (10) students will be selected to participate. The Institute, with the help of renowned scholars, will bolster participants' knowledge about the foundations and trajectory of Africana Studies and provide them with mentoring and other support useful for completion of the degree. Georgia State University will host the Institute and participants will be housed on campus.
The Institute is designed to foster cross-fertilization of ideas, as participants learn from one another, and debate different disciplinary visions and approaches. One-on-one mentoring opportunities will allow students to discuss their research agendas with resource persons, and the Institute Director, James B. Stewart.
Program Details
- Opening Reception/Dinner - Wednesday, June 9th
- Two daily sessions - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Thursday and Friday, June 10th and 11th
- Closing session - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Saturday, June 12th
- Seminars by distinguished scholars
- Independent research and group interaction
- Assigned readings and discussions
- Signed certificate by NCBS President, Charles E. Jones, and Institute Director James B. Stewart upon completion of the program with the designation NCBS-Ford Institute Scholar.
The program will cover the travel expenses of participants up to a maximum of $500. Lodging and meals will be provided at no charge to participants.
Themes
Five themes will be explored over the course of the 2 ½ day Institute:
(1) Disciplinary Foundations/Philosophy; (2) Disciplinary and Organizational Development including Womanist Perspectives; (3) Research Methodology and Disciplinary Paradigms; (4) Literary Analysis/Humanistic Perspectives; and
(5) Publications/Professional Development/Organizational Networking
The presentations by resource persons will be augmented by discussions led by the program staff. These complementary discussions will cover a variety of topics including:
- Foundations of Africana Studies/Black Intellectual/Activist Traditions
- Alternative Conceptualizations of Africana Studies: Discipline or something else?
- Schools of Thought within Africana Studies
- Africana Women's Studies versus Black Feminism
- Africana Studies and Traditional Academic Disciplines
- Outreach in Africana Studies: Social Responsibility
- The Role of Professional Organizations within Africana Studies
- Publication options and dilemmas within Africana Studies
- Using Information technology within Africana Studies
- Designing Africana Studies courses
- Teaching Africana Studies to diverse groups of students
- Career trajectories within Africana Studies
- Faculty appointment options
- Mentoring relationships within Africana Studies
Application and Selection
In addition to self-nominations, the Summer Institute accepts nominations of potential participants, from educators and professors. Each applicant must complete the appended form and must also provide an official transcript and two letters of recommendation. The committee that oversees the Ford Foundation grant will screen applications and select the successful candidates. The applicant's statement describing anticipated benefits from participation in the Institute will serve as the primary basis for participant selection.
Applications must be post-marked no later than April 23, 2010.
For more information:
Email: js8@psu.edu
Write: NCBS Summer Institute
National Council for Black Studies
P.O. Box 4109
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4109
Call: (412) 221-2141
