University of Michigan faculty and students as well as academics from institutions across the world gathered in Weiser Hall Friday and Saturday to celebrate the 15th-year anniversary of the African Studies Center. The event, “Higher Education in the 21st Century: Keys to US-Africa Partnership,” featured various speakers and panelists who addressed topics such as democratization in Africa, challenges brought by climate change, policies of resource extraction and issues of public health. Keynote speakers included University President Santa Ono, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Nigerian Secretary for Health and Environment and Mary Catherine Phee, assistant secretary of state for African affairs of the U.S.
The ASC was established in 2008 to expand the study of Africa in the University’s curriculum and academic partnerships with African institutions and researchers. Ono’s speech touched on the significance of the center’s work to the University as an international institution.
“We have a growing and developing relationship with students, scholars and universities across Africa,” Ono said. “I’m so proud of the work that our African Studies Center has done in building these partnerships. Since the establishment in 2008, the center has hosted more than 250 early to mid-career scholars from over 60 universities in more than 17 countries in Africa.”
Rackham student Amanda Kaminsky, a graduate intern at ASC, told The Michigan Daily about the hands-on research that is the heart of the center, in particular the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program.
“(UMAPS) brings early career scholars from Africa to Michigan to study with a faculty mentor and improve their research with the goal of then going back to Africa to keep teaching and pursuing their academic journey,” Kaminsky said. “There has been many cohorts that have come through, and some have gone on to earn their Ph.D.s at Michigan — so it’s a very cool opportunity.”
Following Ono’s speech, about 25 U-M students stood up with posters to protest the University’s investment in companies profiting from Israel’s military action in Gaza and to protest Mary Catherine Phee, assistant secretary of state for African affairs of the U.S. and former member of the National Security Council for Iraq, who was speaking at the event.
The demonstration was a collaboration between the League of Revolutionary Students, a network of youth organizations that believes revolution is necessary to overcome capitalism, and the TAHRIR Coalition, a multicultural coalition of more than 80 pro-Palestine organizations. In an interview with The Daily, one protester who requested anonymity for fear of retribution explained the thought process behind organizing the demonstration. This individual will be referred to as Alex.
“We did research and found out about (Mary Catherine Phee’s) sinister role in the Iraq war,” Alex said. “In the light of our view towards what’s going on in Palestine, we were all very passionate about opposing her presence, to which we organized it with the intention of shutting down the event and making it known that these types of war criminals have no place on our campus.”
Kaminsky said the protest caused the conference to move locations, but it was ultimately able to resume as scheduled.
“There was a moment of confusion, but I think everyone was really flexible and understanding, and we were able to move forward,” Kaminsky said. “I think a lot of people recognize the importance of free protest on a college campus, and we’re able to just keep going.”
Judd B. Devermont, former special assistant to President Joe Biden, told the crowd the ASC is important in the broader scheme of U.S. attempts to strengthen ties with Africa.
“This conference is about education, and that is the key to U.S.-Africa relations,” Devermont said. “It’s programs like the African Studies Center that really strengthen our ties, and the U.S. government is a big supporter of that. The African Studies Center here is a recipient of the Department of Education’s foreign language and area studies stipend, and the National Resource Center’s, which helps fund this program. … I think that’s a testament to a program that the U.S. government has had and continues to invest in African Studies here so that we have better exchanges, and we have the next generation of U.S.-Africa policymakers.”
Daily Staff Reporter Greta Fear can be reached at gcfear@umich.edu.