Black Studies Newsletter | Summer 2025
Message from the Interim Chair
Hi all, and happy summer break! As we jump into August, Black Studies is
preparing for the new academic year and the continuing celebration of 30
years of Black Studies at PC. This September we are welcoming new
faculty to the department, and welcoming back faculty who were on
sabbatical, all of us ready to support our students and excited to see what
this fall brings. Thank you to our students, faculty, and staff for their hard
work and dedication to Black Studies and our community.
– Dr. Eric Hirsch, Interim Chair
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” – Angela Davis
FACULTY AND STAFF
Meet the Department
BLACK STUDIES, WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
BLACK STUDIES, HEALTH SCIENCES
SOCIOLOGY & ANTHROPOLOGY
BLACK STUDIES
BLACK STUDIES, WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
BLACK STUDIES POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW
BLACK STUDIES, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
BLACK STUDIES, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
FACULTY NEWS
Sabbatical Adventures in Lisbon, Portugal
Dr. Wheeler travelled to Lisbon to conduct fieldwork for her research on Black identities and
experiences in Portugal. As a sociocultural linguist, she was interested in exploring the role that
language plays in the construction and expression of diverse Black diasporic identities. During
her time in Lisbon, Dr. Wheeler collected survey and interview data, connected with community organizations, attended events related to Blackness and the African diaspora, and supported local Black-owned businesses. She even took an intensive Portuguese course! Participants in her study were incredibly generous with their time and perspective, and she is eager to continue working with the data. Dr. Wheeler has presented preliminary results from the study at two international conferences and will be presenting at a third conference in the fall.
Dr. Cato Accepted into Lacordaire Faculty Fellows Program
Dr. Cato was accepted into the‘25-’26 PC Lacordaire Faculty Fellows Program. Named after the Dominican, Henri-Maire Lacordaire, O.P., the program brings together an intentional, interdisciplinary, and collaborative community of faculty to explore questions pertaining to the human person and to inspire mission integration in teaching and pedagogy. In doing so, it provides mutual support for intellectual, spiritual, and pedagogical development. Congratulations Dr. Cato!
Welcome to Our “New” Faculty!
This fall semester, we are officially welcoming Dr. Alioune Fall to the Black Studies Department! Dr. Fall, now jointly appointed with Black Studies and World Languages and Cultures, has been assisting Black Studies for some time and we are excited about the courses and expertise he brings to the department. Dr. Alannah Caisey is also joining us this fall – be sure to say hello if you see her around campus!
Department News
Department Begins a Year of Celebration
This spring ‘25 semester marked 30 years of Black Studies at Providence College, and kicked off our 30 Anniversary celebrations. On May 1st, the Department of Black Studies held the 30th Anniversary Black Studies Senior Celebration and Banquet. The well-attended dinner celebrated the 4 graduating senior Black Studies minors – Kelvin Afranie, Yaw Asante, Suniya Crawley, and Joshua Rykiel- and the first graduating senior Black Studies major- Elizabeth Hien.
Departmental awards were also presented at the celebration. Yaw Asante received the Mary McLeod Bethune Award, both Suniya Crawley and Kelvin Afranie received the Amílcar Cabral Freedom Award, and Elizabeth Hien received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.
Several BLS alumni also submitted photos from their time at Providence College in the Black Studies Program. As we move forward during this year of celebration, we are excited to honor and recognize the students and faculty that made Black Studies at Providence College possible today!
Curriculum Information
Black Studies Major
30 credits (10 courses)
– BLS 101: Intro to Black Studies
– BLS 480: Seminar in Black Studies
– 8 additional courses from the three thematic areas
Black Studies Minor
18 credits (6 courses)
– BLS 101: Intro to Black Studies
– 5 additional courses from the three thematic areas
Thematic Areas
Culture, Language, Literature, & the Arts
BLS 122: Black Cinema
BLS 225: The African World View
BLS 227: History of Jazz
BLS 314: Black Feminisms
BLS 376: Toni Morrison
Historical Inquiry
BLS 225: The African World View
BLS 304: Social Movements
BLS 344: Colonialism and Nationalism
in Modern Africa
BLS 347: The Civil Rights Movement in
the US: 1955-75
Are You a Black Studies Alumni?
We’d love to hear how you’re doing!
Send us an update at black.studies@providence.edu
Want to update your contact info or be added to our mailing list?
Send us your name and email!
Fall 2025 Courses
BLS 101: Introduction to Black Studies
Fulfills:
Civic Engagement, Diversity, and Social Science
Section 001 Dr. Scott | M/R, 10-11:15am
Section 002 Dr. Scott | T/R, 1-2:15pm
Section 003 Dr. Caisey | T/R, 11:30am-12:45pm
Section 004 Dr. Caisey | T/R, 4-5:15pm
Section 005 Dr. Cato | T/W/F, 10:30-11:20am *SEATS OPEN*
Section 006 Dr. Wheeler | M/R, 8:30-9:45am*SEATS OPEN*
BLS 205: Race and Racism |
Dr. Gebremariam, Sociology & Anthropology
BLS 220_001/002: Diversity/ Culture in Social Work Practice | Dr. Hagar, Social Work
BLS 311: Equity Issues in Education |
Dr. Rolon, Secondary Education
BLS 321: AIDS, Race & Gender in the Black Community | Dr. Scott
BLS 344: Colonialism & Nationalism in Modern Africa | Dr. Colpa, History & Classics
BLS 211_002: Urban Education | Dr. Ateh, Secondary Education
BLS 307_001/002: Urban Sociology | Dr. Hirsch, Sociology & Anthropology
BLS 314: Black Feminisms | Dr. Caisey
BLS 334: African Politics | Dr. Banini, Political Science
BLS 371: Global and Postcolonial Literature | Dr. Valkeakari, English
Department Office
Howley Hall 119
401.865.2125
401.865.2232
black.studies@providence.edu
Black Studies
Social Media
