Celebrating the Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate
A Day of Scholarship & Dialogue
The launch event for the Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies will be a full-day symposium that brings together distinguished scholars, WashU faculty, and graduate students to reflect on the past, present, and future of Black Studies. Through panels, keynote conversations, and faculty presentations, the program will highlight new research, critical debates, and the global dimensions of Black life, culture, and politics.
Featured speakers include Beverly Guy-Sheftall (Spelman College), Ula Taylor (UC Berkeley), and Keisha-Khan Perry (University of Pennsylvania), Robert Johnson (St. Cloud University), and Oliver Kerr (Ph.D. Student UPenn) who will join WashU faculty and graduate students in rich dialogue. In addition to formal panels, the day will provide opportunities for networking, community building, and celebrating the interdisciplinary spirit of AFAS.
Session Schedule
Opening Ceremony: 9:00 - 9:30
Session 1: 9:30 – 10:45 AM — History of Black Studies at WashU
- Dr. Gerlad Early, Washington University
- Dr. Robert Johnson, 1968 Brookings Hall Protestor
Break : 10:45 -11:00
Session 2: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM — Black Studies: Past & Future
- Dr. Ula Taylor, University of California, Berkeley
- Dr. Keisha-Khan Perry, University of Pennsylvania
- Moderator: Dr. Marlon Bailey, Washington University
Lunch: 12:15 - 12:45
Session 3: 12:45 – 2:00 PM — Lightning Book Talks by AFAS Faculty
- Dr. Samuel Shearer, Washington University
- Dr. Bronwyn Nichols Lodato, Washington University
- Dr. Esther Viola Kurtz, Washington University
- Dr. Raven Maragh-Lloyd, Washington University
- Dr. Gerald Early, Washington University
- Moderator: Dr. Geoff Ward, Washington University
Break: 2:00 - 2:15
Session 4: 2:15 – 3:30 PM — Graduate Student Roundtable
- Ekua Inkoom, PhD Student, Hispanic Studies
- Chinenye Okoro, PhD Student, Music
- Tolu Daniel, PhD Student, Comparative Literature
- Jeanne Rosine Abomo Edou, PhD Student, Hispanic Studies
- SynClaire Arthur, PhD Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences
- Moderator: Dr. Zachary Manditch-Prottas, Washington University
Break: 3:30 - 3:45
Session 5: 3:45 – 5:00 PM — Black Studies and University Administration
- Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Spelman College
- Dr. Dwight McBride, Washington University
- Moderator: Dr. Shanti Parikh, Washington University
Dinner: 6:30 - Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant
RSVP Here
Learn More About the Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies offers doctoral students in any discipline the opportunity to strengthen their research with rigorous interdisciplinary training in the humanities and social sciences. The program equips students with the tools to critically analyze race, Blackness, and the processes of racialization in global contexts while complementing their primary field of study.
Students interested in expanding their scholarship and engaging with a vibrant community of faculty and peers are encouraged to explore the program requirements, opportunities, and application process.