Promoting the Study of Africa, the African Diaspora and the Lived Experiences of African Americans.
Are you interested in the multitude of ways that Africans and people of African descent have impacted our world?
The Center for Africana Studies promotes the study of Africa and those of African descent, bringing recognition to the studies locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our mission is to recognize the important contributions that Africans and people of African descent have made and the impact these contributions have had on the world economically, politically, culturally and socially.
Students in the Center for Africana Studies have the opportunity to engage in social justice research and participate in programs designed to positively impact the community. An academic arm of the College of Arts & Humanities, the Center for Africana Studies curriculum is designed to lay a foundation for students to explore the historical, cultural and political experiences of African people and the African Diaspora. Students will gain an appreciation for the diversity of the people of Africa and African descendants throughout the world.
Africana Studies Minor
The Africana Studies minor offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the African Diaspora and social justice. Students gain critical thinking, research, and communication skills while exploring history, culture, and global inequalities. This minor prepares students for careers in education, media, advocacy, government, and business, fostering a deeper, Africa-informed perspective on the world.
Minor in Africana Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Georgia Southern offers a flexible path for students to tailor their education to their unique goals. Available in-person and online, the program supports transfer students, working professionals, and those seeking a diverse academic foundation. With multiple concentrations and dedicated faculty mentorship, students can customize their coursework while preparing for careers in business, technology, education and beyond.
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
What Makes Us Unique
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center, housed in the Armstrong Center in Savannah, preserves and celebrates Gullah Geechee culture in South Georgia. As a community anchor, it fosters connections across generations through outreach and engagement. The Center highlights Gullah Geechee contributions, supports education for students and faculty, and strengthens cultural pride and awareness.
Africana Studies Reading Room
This collection of books and artifacts from Africa and the African Diaspora sits in Room 2004 in the IAB Building on the Statesboro Campus and offers an intimate setting for students and faculty to explore Africa. Much of the collection was donated by Betty Podol from treasured items of her late husband, Richard Podol.
Model African Union
The National Model African Union offers students a dynamic way to explore the African Union’s role and impact. Through simulation and embassy briefings in Washington, D.C., participants engage with key economic, social, and political issues. The program fosters diplomacy skills, deepens policy understanding and enhances global awareness.
What our Africana Studies alumni have to say…
“The African Studies program is very important to me because I am of African descent and through this program I can study my heritage in an academic setting. As an English major with intentions to pursue a doctorate in African-American literature, I have found valuable opportunities to explore different areas of my emphasis. Culture, politics, history, and other topics are pertinent to the understanding of the literature of a people.”
“The Africana Studies minor program is an essential component to an inclusive comprehensive education … It introduces students to concepts and cultures that aren’t covered in other areas. The Center for Africana Studies will aid Georgia Southern University in its efforts to become recognized as one of the most comprehensive, student centered universities in the nation.”
About Us
The Center for Africana Studies is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in its academic scope. Its goal is to expose students to myriad aspects of the experiences of indigenous Africans on the Continent and of people of African descent throughout the Diaspora. The Center for Africana Studies is an academic arm of the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. As such, students have opportunities to engage in social justice research as well as participate in programs of studies designed to positively impact the greater community. The curriculum is designed to lay a foundation and offer an opportunity for students to explore the historical, cultural, and political experiences of African people and the African Diaspora. Students will gain an appreciation for the diversity of the people of Africa and African descendants throughout the world.
The Center for Africana Studies at Georgia Southern recognizes the important contributions that Africans, and people of African descent, have made and the impact that these contributions have had on the world economically, politically, culturally, and socially. The Center for Africana Studies promotes the study of Africa, the African Diaspora, and the lived experiences of African Americans and other subjects that resonate with the study of Africa in any academic discipline. The Center of Africana Studies, housed in the College of Arts and Humanities, seeks to become the preeminent center for studying Africa and those of African descent in the South-East areas of Georgia and South Carolina and bringing recognition to these studies locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
In alignment with the Vision Statement for Georgia Southern University, The Center for Africana Study’s Vision Statement focuses on People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others.
- People: Indigenous people in Africa and the African Diaspora.
- Purpose: Create a platform to celebrate, honor, research, understand, promote and support Africa and the African Diaspora
- Action: Prepare scholars to impact the world with knowledge gained about Africa and the African Diaspora
- Growing ourselves (students, faculty, and staff) to grow others (the community)
The goals and strategies of the Center for Africana Studies align with those of the university:
- Student success – supporting students in achieving their individual and unique goals and providing opportunities for them to engage in academic, personal, and professional development activities.
- Teaching Research – advancing knowledge of African and the African Diaspora through integrated teaching, research, and creative scholarly activity
- Inclusive Excellence – neither the people nor the study of Africa are homogenous, but rather consist of myriad cultures and groups. The center promotes an equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture
- Operational Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Sustainability – maximizing financial and human capital to ensure long-term sustainability of the Center
- Community Engagement – partnering with the local community for all of our campuses to share knowledge and resources and increase the quality of life
Our Logo
The Sanko Bird symbolizes the need for people (in general) and Blacks (in particular) to look back at history through accurate historic lenses to move forward to impact the world.