FALL 2008 - UW-Milwaukee

Department of Africologycontinued from page 2Celebrating 40 yearsProfessor Patrick Bellegarde-Smith atthe Department of Africology’s 40thAnniversary Celebration.Today, in yet another historic yearfor the nation, UWM’s Department ofAfricology marks its 40th anniversarywith the creation of a PhD program.This expansion places UWM among anelite group of only eight institutions,including Temple, the University ofCalifornia at Berkeley, Yale, andHarvard, that offer such a doctoralprogram. Set to begin in the fall of2009, the program is expected to attractapplicants from all over the world andwill involve substantial cross-disciplinarycollaboration. It will be organizedaround three areas of focus:• Political Economy and Public Policy• Culture and Society: Africa and theAfrican Diaspora• A concentration outside the departmentin the student’s area of interestJoyce Kirk, associate professor andchair of the Africology Department,In 2009, UWM willbecome one of onlyeight institutionsoffering a doctoralprogram in Africology.notes that the Board of Regents’approval of the doctoral degree “sendsa strong signal to Wisconsin andMilwaukee residents that this programis an institutional priority.”Since its inception, theDepartment of Africology has taughtmore than 60,000 students. Itsgraduates have gone on to becomephysicians, teachers, lawyers, businessprofessionals, and elected officials.Academic Opportunity Centercontinued from previous pageOne aspect of the program that’sremained consistent over the years isits method of comprehensive evaluationfor admission, which Russell saysis gaining traction on a system-widelevel. “We have always looked at othercriteria than cognitive, quantitativeinformation,” she explains. Test scores,examples of leadership, communityinvolvement, high school extra curricularactivities, and work experienceare all taken into account whenmeasuring a student’s potential foracademic success. Russell adds thatthe 21st century has delivered a uniqueset of obstacles for the program, “It’s adifferent age. Students are just differentand it’s unfortunate that someonetold them along the way, ‘you’re doingvery well.’ So here they are…in somecases not writing a clear, declarativesentence but can text message out ofthis world. Critical thinking is seriouslylacking,” she says.Looking towards the next 40 years,Russell believes that Spaights’ initialidea of building a community within auniversity remains the core of howstudents become successful. “It wasalmost a one-stop shop,” she claims.“Believe it or not, we’re getting backto that.”Jimmy Johnstone, senior advisor4 Fall 2008/Myriad