Welcome to the Africana Studies Institute

UConn’s Africana Studies Institute is a vibrant community of scholars who study the African American experience, Africa, and the African Diaspora. 

Learn more about the history of ASI

Moratorium, October 15, 1969. Students at the Vietnam War protest in front of the Student Union. (Howard Goldbaum Collection of Connecticut Daily Campus Negatives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library.)

What is Africana Studies?

Africana Studies is a field of study that is interdisciplinary in focus. The Institute teaches classes ranging from sociology, political science, history, and education among our diverse offerings. More specifically at UCONN, for decades we have trained our students to critically analyze the varied experiences of people of African descent globally and locally. We have a strong public history presence that focuses on Black people in New England and Connecticut that helps the program remain committed to the principles that Africana Studies was founded on, community engagement.

Why major or minor in Africana Studies?

It has become increasingly important to successive generations of students entering the workforce to develop and refine skills needed to practice cultural competence and critically analyze the varied experiences of African descended people in this country and around the world. The Africana Studies Institute offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a minor in Africana Studies, which provides a solid foundation for jobs in health care, law, education, journalism, government, and charitable, nonprofit organizations.

 

What we offer:

You will learn from some of UConn’s best teachers and mentors as well as trailblazers in their respective fields.

You will enhance your critical thinking, writing, analysis, and communication skills.

Opportunities to study abroad in Ghana and Kenya for course credit.

Faculty pairing: 1:1 academic advising, career mentoring, and research opportunities.

Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence in Africana Studies

30+
Undergraduate Majors

70+
Undergraduate Minors

16+
Core Faculty

26+
Affiliate Faculty

Undergraduate Advising

Three people seated on a beige couch in a library, surrounded by shelves filled with books. They are engaged in a study session with an open book and loose papers on a coffee table in front of them.

Major in Africana Studies

Dive into diverse cultures and histories of African descended people.

Explore the Major

 

Close-up of a bookshelf in a library with rows of books, and a blurred background of a reading area with tables and chairs.

Minor Options

The Institute offers two minors in Africana Studies and African Studies, coupled with study abroad opportunities in African countries.

 

Explore the Minors

ASI Staff and Dr. Molette at the Mollette Dinner 2023: A group of eight individuals stands in a line indoors for a photo, with one of them using a mobility aid, a walker. They are dressed in a mixture of formal and casual attire. The background features an exit sign above a door on the left.

Find a Professor

Explore our roster of faculty members and their areas of research expertise.

Explore our Faculty

IN THE NEWS

UConn Today: CLAS Connections: Fiona Vernal and Amanda Cannada

Feb 12, 2024

Five heartfelt minutes with Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies Fiona Vernal and Africana Studies Program Assistant Amanda Cannada.

Upcoming Events

Follow Us on Instagram!

uconnafricana

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Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio
#uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies

Open
Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio #uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies

Today is the last day of the UConn Gives campaign! Please support Africana Studies in supporting our students in academic excellence! Your donation can help create opportunities for students, such as education abroad, conferences, and research projects! Every dollar counts! Donate today! Link in bio
#uconngives #uconngives2024 #uconnhuskies #africanastudiesmatters #africanastudies ...

#ASI #BookTalk #AfricanaStudies #UConn
Join us for this Africans Book Talk with Professor Fumilayo Showers!

March 27, 2024 at 4pm.
Location: Class of ‘47 Room, Babbidge Library.

Open
#ASI #BookTalk #AfricanaStudies #UConn Join us for this Africans Book Talk with Professor Fumilayo Showers! March 27, 2024 at 4pm. Location: Class of ‘47 Room, Babbidge Library.

#ASI #BookTalk #AfricanaStudies #UConn
Join us for this Africans Book Talk with Professor Fumilayo Showers!

March 27, 2024 at 4pm.
Location: Class of ‘47 Room, Babbidge Library. ...

#ASI #AfricanaStudies #BlackWomen #UConn

Who Fights For Black Women?
Join the AACC and UCHI on March at 5pm in the AACC Community Lounge!

Link for RSVP below and in our bio:

LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbQDTQGkFC-vPfrjVyF7Th74525hoav3jbDS6riH_qINJlPQ/viewform

Join us!

Open
#ASI #AfricanaStudies #BlackWomen #UConn Who Fights For Black Women? Join the AACC and UCHI on March at 5pm in the AACC Community Lounge! Link for RSVP below and in our bio: LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbQDTQGkFC-vPfrjVyF7Th74525hoav3jbDS6riH_qINJlPQ/viewform Join us!

#ASI #AfricanaStudies #BlackWomen #UConn

Who Fights For Black Women?
Join the AACC and UCHI on March at 5pm in the AACC Community Lounge!

Link for RSVP below and in our bio:

LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbQDTQGkFC-vPfrjVyF7Th74525hoav3jbDS6riH_qINJlPQ/viewform

Join us! ...

#ASI AfricanStudiesInstitute #UConn #Film #Ampe #BlackGIrls
Join us on April 9, 2024 For Ampe: Leap Into the Sky, Black Girl film screening!

@ampestudyfilm

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#ASI AfricanStudiesInstitute #UConn #Film #Ampe #BlackGIrls Join us on April 9, 2024 For Ampe: Leap Into the Sky, Black Girl film screening! @ampestudyfilm

#ASI AfricanStudiesInstitute #UConn #Film #Ampe #BlackGIrls
Join us on April 9, 2024 For Ampe: Leap Into the Sky, Black Girl film screening!

@ampestudyfilm ...

#Symposium #EthnicStudies #Archival #ASI #UConn

Participate in the Ethnic Studies Symposium honoring the 1974 sit-in will be Friday, April 5th from 10:30-6pm. Our keynote speaker will be Antoinette Brim-Bell, the CT State Poet Laureate.

Link to view the Call for Papers is below and in our bio.

Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/connecticut-ethnic-studies-symposium/

Open
#Symposium #EthnicStudies #Archival #ASI #UConn Participate in the Ethnic Studies Symposium honoring the 1974 sit-in will be Friday, April 5th from 10:30-6pm. Our keynote speaker will be Antoinette Brim-Bell, the CT State Poet Laureate. Link to view the Call for Papers is below and in our bio. Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/connecticut-ethnic-studies-symposium/

#Symposium #EthnicStudies #Archival #ASI #UConn

Participate in the Ethnic Studies Symposium honoring the 1974 sit-in will be Friday, April 5th from 10:30-6pm. Our keynote speaker will be Antoinette Brim-Bell, the CT State Poet Laureate.

Link to view the Call for Papers is below and in our bio.

Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/connecticut-ethnic-studies-symposium/ ...

#Faculty #Talk #ASI #Elections #Us #Uconn

Join us for this amazing talk with Professor Evelyn Simien!

It will be held at Homer Babbidge Library 4th floor, HBL 4-209 room.

You can also register to attend online.

Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/2024/01/25/faculty-talk-evelyn-simien-on-historic-u-s-elections/

The link is also available in our bio and stories.

Open
#Faculty #Talk #ASI #Elections #Us #Uconn Join us for this amazing talk with Professor Evelyn Simien! It will be held at Homer Babbidge Library 4th floor, HBL 4-209 room. You can also register to attend online. Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/2024/01/25/faculty-talk-evelyn-simien-on-historic-u-s-elections/ The link is also available in our bio and stories.

#Faculty #Talk #ASI #Elections #Us #Uconn

Join us for this amazing talk with Professor Evelyn Simien!

It will be held at Homer Babbidge Library 4th floor, HBL 4-209 room.

You can also register to attend online.

Link: https://humanities.uconn.edu/2024/01/25/faculty-talk-evelyn-simien-on-historic-u-s-elections/

The link is also available in our bio and stories. ...