Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, Ph.D., is set to attend a research seminar in Dakar, Senegal, from January 3-21, 2024. The CAORC-WARC seminar, aimed at faculty from U.S. community colleges, will focus on West Africa’s impact on the diaspora. Participants must implement campus projects and submit reports post-seminar.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, Ph.D., the director of the Division of Humanities and Criminology at UDC’s Community College, has been chosen to participate in a prestigious two-week research seminar in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled for January 3-21, 2024.
The seminar, administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) in partnership with the West African Research Center (WARC), is titled “West Africa and the Diaspora: Continuities and Transformations.” It is a competitive program aimed at providing participants with enriching cultural experiences through visits to significant sites including Goree Island, Toubacouta, and Saint-Louis.
The initiative supports faculty and administrators from U.S. community colleges and minority-serving institutions, providing fully funded overseas seminars that promote a broader global perspective. By fostering cultural understanding, the program aims to enhance critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills among students.
This seminar will incorporate various educational activities such as lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and film screenings that address the history, culture, economy, and political dynamics of Senegal, with an emphasis on the links between West Africa and the diaspora.
Additionally, the seminar will highlight Senegal’s religious and spiritual diversity, as well as transnational movements that influence society, particularly among youth. Participants are encouraged to propose and implement a project within a year of the seminar to bolster internationalization efforts on their campuses, followed by a project report.
Moreover, seminar participants are expected to contribute a short article to the CAORC blog, Field Notes, three months after the program concludes, sharing insights gained from their experiences in Senegal.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber’s selection for the CAORC-WARC seminar underscores her commitment to enhancing global perspectives within education. The seminar’s focus on West African history, culture, and sociopolitical dynamics will foster important educational initiatives that benefit both faculty and students at UDC and similar institutions.
Original Source: www.udc.edu
