Executive Committee

2024-2025

• Beth Samuelson - Director (Ex-Officio)
• Tavy Aherne - Associate Director (Ex-Officio)
• Solimar Otero - Chair, Belonging and Inclusiveness Committee
• Position to be filled - Chair, Graduate Affairs Committee
• Osita Afoaku - Chair, Undergraduate Affairs Committee
• Sarah Osterhoudt - Chair, Academic Initiatives Committee
• Kazeem Sanuth - Chair, Technology Committee
• Position empty - Chair, Library Committee
• Alwiya Omar - Chair, Language Committee
• Allison Martino – Chair, Museums & Collections/IU Auxiliary Units
• Tavy Aherne - Chair, Outreach Committee
• Esi Thompson - At-Large Member
• Njau Jackson - At-Large Member
• Nicholas Agyekum - Graduate Student Representative

The African Studies Program operates on the principle of faculty governance. Our Executive Committee is drawn from faculty in units across the IU Bloomington campus – in the College and ten professional schools with which we have substantial and long-standing relationships. The ASP Executive Committee is the top level of governance within the unit. It’s charge is to oversee major policy and planning for the program.

The director invites faculty to serve in the nine chaired positions. In addition, all faculty and faculty affiliates vote for two at-large members annually, and a graduate student representative is selected by ASP’s graduate student organization (GSAS). The Executive Committee meets at least twice per semester, convening the members. The director, associate director, languages coordinator, and librarian serve as ex officio members. Additionally, faculty are invited to serve on committees of 3-5 members each (led by the chairs) for academic initiatives, diversity, emerging technology, graduate affairs, undergraduate affairs, languages, libraries, outreach, and museums/auxiliary units. Each chair serves for no more than two terms to invite greater faculty engagement. Chairs and committees make recommendations at all-faculty meetings held at least twice a year; votes are taken at ASP’s all-faculty meetings.

Academic Initiatives

This committee focuses on strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations across IU, between faculty and between faculty and students. It assesses the state of the field of African Studies and suggests areas of focus for programmatic and curricular initiatives. This includes the identification of new areas of research among faculty and graduate students, and the formation of Working Groups to promote shared research.

Belonging & Inclusiveness

The committee reflects on whether we are meeting our stated goals in recruitment and support of students, recruitment, and retention of faculty across IU (though hiring is outside of ASP), and through the programs, events, and outreach initiatives ASP conducts.

Graduate Affairs

The committee assesses African Studies graduate curriculum, quality and enhancement of graduate instruction, graduate faculty levels, extracurricular graduate student needs, reviews graduate student admissions for the various Master’s degrees and PhD Minor in African Studies, and more.

Undergraduate Affairs

The committee assesses African Studies undergraduate curriculum, quality and enhancement of undergraduate instruction, undergraduate faculty levels, extracurricular undergraduate student needs, study abroad development, and more.

Languages

The committee assesses the African Languages Program including curriculum, language options to support, opportunities for training of Student Academic Appointees (SAAs), and more. Takes recommendations from the African Languages Committee. Makes critical decisions regarding the changes in language focus in support of changing priorities for student careers, international relations, and faculty research.

Libraries

Works with the curriculum and language committees to make sure needs of students and faculty across all of IU are met, including identifying new, emerging areas of interest. Acts as liaison across all IU library units and with Title VI Africa-NRC librarians across the U.S.

Emerging Technology

The committee assesses and advises on technology and space needs for African languages and area studies courses and support of students in our degree programs. It is also involved with recommendations for training in best practices of online teaching and pedagogy.

Outreach

Outreach by African Studies has grown exponentially. This committee works with the associate director on a multi-pronged approach to outreach that considers needs on the local, state, and national level, and assessing where ASP can best provide assistance and expertise and develop partnerships (internal/external). Priorities are K-12 teacher training, K-16 internationalization of curriculums with Africa content, and collaborative partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Community Colleges, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

Museums/Auxiliary Units

This committee is new for Fall 2022. However, it represents the six-decades long integration of interdisciplinary studies, theoretical and methodological practices, hands-on experiential learning, and professionalization experiences through museums and African Studies collaborations. This unique collaboration has produced and continues to produce outstanding faculty and curators of international stature, while graduate students and faculty help to build the collections of the museums. The museums are also integral partners in ASP’s K-12, internal IU, and public outreach programs.