Africana Research Center (ARC)

Though our focus is global and international in scope, the ARC’s primary objective is to stimulate and sustain the development of relevant and appropriate initiatives at Penn State that foster diversity and an increased understanding and appreciation of the history, life, and culture of African diasporic peoples.These objectives have many forms, including the following:

Fund Research for Students, Teaching Faculty, and Tenure-Track Faculty

Calls for research proposals go out in early spring semester. Students whose primary research centers on the African Diaspora may receive up to $1,000 in funding. Information about research funding and the application process is available here.

Sponsor The Barbara Jordan Lecture

In 2004, the Africana Research Center and the Department of African and African American Studies created the Barbara Jordan Lecture Series to recognize and introduce the Penn State community to the scholarship of an African American civil rights activist. The ARC named the lecture after Barbara Jordan because she was a modern day “giant” in activism, scholarship, and action before her untimely death in 1996.

Sponsor The Nelson Mandela Lecture

In 2005, the Africana Research Center and the Department of African and American Studies created the Nelson Mandela Lecture Series to recognize and introduce the Penn State community to the scholarship of an African human rights activist. The ARC namedthe lecture after Nelson Mandela, not only because he changed the sociopolitical structure of South Africa, but because he challenged the world to have a conscience in addressing human rights.

Provide Co-Sponsorship For Cultural Or Scholarly Programming

Official student organizations and academic and administrative units may apply for up to $500 in support. Requests for co-sponsorships over $500 should be submitted in the fiscal year before sponsorship. Programming must advance the ARC mission. An organization may receive only one co-sponsorship award per year. The request guidelines for co-sponsorship is available here.

Support College Of The Liberal Arts Postdoctoral Fellows

In an effort to increase the number of faculty from underrepresented groups on campus, the ARC provides professional development and research support for three junior scholars from universities other than Penn State each year. The ARC selects candidates from a pool of applicants and those selected must participate in the spring Emerging Scholars speaker series. Information on the Postdoctoral Fellowship program can be found here.

Support College Of The Liberal Arts Dissertation Fellows

The ARC offers dissertation fellowship awards for humanities graduates who are working on African Diaspora-related topics for their dissertations. The ARC augments the College of the Liberal Arts’ Humanities Initiative Dissertation Release Awards by providing $1,000 to support research and related activities. Information on the Dissertation Fellowship program can be found here.