Now accepting applications for the 2026–27 AFAS & Center for the Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship!
Join a dynamic community of scholars advancing innovative research in African and African American Studies.

Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship in African & African American Studies and the Center for the Humanities

Advance your research. Shape the future of Black Studies

The Department of African and African American Studies (AFAS) and the Center for the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis invite applications for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship supporting the 2026–27 seminar, “Black Studies, Academic Freedom, and the Future of the American University.”

This fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity for an emerging scholar in Black Studies or a related humanities field to contribute to the intellectual and administrative life of a year-long seminar exploring the role of Black Studies in shaping the future of higher education. The fellow will help organize and participate in seminar activities, including coordinating guest speakers, developing reading lists, facilitating discussions, and archiving proceedings.

Fellows are expected to be in residence and active in all aspects of the project while pursuing their own research related to the seminar’s themes. A second-year renewal may be possible to support completion of the seminar’s proceedings and deliverables.

The fellowship carries a 12-month appointment beginning around July 1, 2026, and includes a competitive salary, research funds, office space, and full access to university resources. Applicants must have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. by the start of the fellowship.

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Broaden your scholarship—apply for the Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies!
Gain interdisciplinary training and join a community of scholars exploring Black experiences across the globe

Apply Now: Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies

Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies, offered by the Department of African and African American Studies (AFAS), provides doctoral students at Washington University with rigorous interdisciplinary training in the humanities and social sciences beyond their primary department.

Through coursework, community engagement, and scholarly collaboration, the certificate equips students to examine Black experiences, thought, and movements across global contexts. This program fosters intellectual breadth and prepares scholars to engage in innovative, cross-disciplinary research on race, culture, and social transformation.

Eligibility: Open to current Washington University Ph.D. students in any discipline.

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The CRE² Visiting Distinguished Fellow in Residence Program for Civic Leaders and Scholars

Collaboration in Action: AFAS Co-Sponsors CRE² Fellowship for Civic Leaders & S…

The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE²) at Washington University in St. Louis is proud to launch a new initiative: the CRE2 Visiting Distinguished Fellow-in-Residence Program for Civic Leaders and Scholars.

This residency invites a prominent civic leader or scholar whose work aligns with CRE²’s mission to foster rigorous scholarship, creative practice, and meaningful community engagement. The Fellow will collaborate with CRE² and Washington University partners to curate and host a robust slate of public and campus-facing events usually over the course of the semester.

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AFAS student, Precious Berry, paves the way for student leadership

AFAS student paves the way in student leadership

Celebrating AFAS Student Leadership: Precious Berry

AFAS is proud to highlight the accomplishments of our majors who are making an impact on campus and in the community. Precious Berry has immersed herself in life at WashU by launching the university’s first NAACP chapter, serving as a Gephardt Institute St. Louis Fellow, and interning with both the WashU Police Department and the In St. Louis, For St. Louis initiative

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About Our Department

Our faculty pursue interests across the spectrum of African and African American studies. In addition to our expertise in core subjects areas like English, history, sociology, and anthropology, AFAS faculty are actively engaged in interdisciplinary, practice-oriented fields across Washington University, including social work and public health, architecture and design, computer science, business, law, and education. 

The department regularly sponsors lectures and events, such as plays, film festivals, exhibits, field trips, and panels and speakers, which focus on contemporary or perennial topics of interest in all areas of the Black experience. In many cases, guest lecturers and artists visit classes and interact directly with our students and others across the campus community. Through our scholarship, teaching, and broader engagement activities we seek to foster a vibrant and impactful social and intellectual community of African and African American Studies. 

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events

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campus organizations

  • African Students Association

    ASA's mission is to advance political, social, cultural, and economic awareness about the African continent by engaging individuals in dialogue that will establish a deeper understanding and appreciation of the dynamic cultures within the continent.

  • Association of Black Students

    The Association of Black Students is an organization with a rich, powerful history of fellowship, service, and advocacy at Washington University..

  • Black Alumni Council

    The mission of the BAC is to support the professional and personal development of WashU black alumni, to assist in the recruitment and retention of African American students, and to enhance the continued growth and development of the university.

  • Black Anthology

    Black Anthology was founded in 1989. It is an annual performance that is written, choreographed, directed, and produced entirely by Washington University students.

My time in AFAS provided me with a family that kept me focused and motivated throughout my time at WashU. There was an abundance of resource sharing and support from both students and faculty. My time in AFAS also encouraged me to ask questions and challenge the erasure of Blackness in other areas of study. AFAS gave me a second home while at WashU, and continues to keep me rooted today.

― Ashley Thompson Class of 2021, double major in Political Science and AFAS with a minor in Sociology. She is currently a second-year law student at Stanford Law School.