Center for Africana Studies
Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. announced the creation of the Center for Africana Studies in February 2024, to mark the start of Black History Month. Housed within the College of Education, the Center is designed to become a leading resource for scholarly research, community engagement and educational programming, particularly in support of New Jersey's Amistad curriculum for K-12 students.
The Center’s initial focus will be to develop educational programming to help public school districts implement the state’s Amistad curriculum, which mandates teaching about the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the many contributions Africans have made to American society.
Kean's Center for Africana Studies has a vibrant presence on campus and is connected to various African student groups. It hosts an annual guest speaker series, a study abroad class, and the spectacular African heritage graduation ceremony. In our multicultural society, knowledge about Africa is beneficial to educators, counselors, social workers, managers, business owners and many other professions.
Africana Studies Minor
The minor in Africana Studies at Kean University is an 18 credit interdisciplinary program that can be taken in conjunction with any major academic curriculum. This program is for anyone interested in the histories, ideas, and experiences related to Africa and its people, wherever they are in the world. A minor in Africana Studies helps students develop critical thinking and analytical skills that are marketable in the professional world. Graduates with an Africana Studies background are well prepared for graduate school or they can find employment in government, Foreign Service, international development agencies, international consultancies, and human service organizations–especially those working with immigrant communities.
Inaugural Event
On February 21, 2024, Kean's Center for Africana Studies held its inaugural event. The event featured mobile exhibits from the African American Heritage Museum of Southern NJ, including: This Little Light of Mine, a tribute to the black church; Atlantic City’s Northside: Redlining In The Sand, an exploration of the factors that created segregated neighborhoods such as Atlantic City’s Northside that existed throughout the country at the turn of the century; and A Time for Change, an exploration of South Jersey’s role in the civil rights movement.
