Center for African Studies

The Center for African Studies was established in May 2019 in the Department of Africana Studies (formerly Pan-African Studies) and officially inaugurated on November 21, 2019.

The Center’s establishment is the culmination of several conversations and exchanges of ideas about Africa among the faculty members in the Department of Africana Studies (DAFS) and colleagues from across Kent State University. Dr. Felix Kumah-Abiwu is the Founding Director of the Center.

The Center is devoted to promoting awareness and understanding of contemporary issues in Africa at Kent State University, Northeast Ohio, the state of Ohio, and across the rest of the United States. The Center is also dedicated to promoting the African Studies minor and other experiential learning programs such as study abroad programs, fellowships, and internships for students.

Through the collaborative efforts with units (academic/cultural) in DAFS, other academic departments, and schools across Kent State, the Center organizes regular public lectures, research/policy talks, and expert panel discussions on contemporary African issues.

The Center is also committed to working with stakeholders in the academic and policy environments such as scholars, policy experts, students, and community members with interest in Africa to create opportunities for interdisciplinary research and policy engagements on Africa’s contemporary issues.

Contact:

Dr. Felix Kumah-Abiwu, Director, Center for African Studies
P.O. Box 5190 / 127 Oscar Ritchie Hall Kent, Ohio 44242
Phone: 330-672-2300 / Fax 330-672-4837
Email: fkumahab@kent.edu