Faculty

Africana Studies is a diverse and collegial community of faculty, staff, and students. Our program is interdisciplinary, which means that our core faculty teach Africana Studies courses while based in a single field such as History or English.

Core Faculty

Blakey, Michael
Professor of Africana Studies, American Studies, and Anthropology
Office: McGlothlin-Street Hall 136
Phone: 757-221-7681
Email: [[mlblak]]
Areas of Specialization: Biological anthropology, biohistory, bioarchaeology; history and philosophy of science; White supremacy in science and society; publicly engaged archaeology; North America, African diaspora.

Boyd, Da'Von
Assistant Professor of Government & Africana Studies
Office : Chancellors 347
Links: [[daboyd01, Email]]
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00-5:30 pm; or by appointment https://calendly.com/daboyd01-wm/30min
Research Interests: Political Theory; Twentieth Century African American Political Thought and Social and Intellectual History; Social Movements; Political Theology

Ebowe, Emma
Assistant Professor of Government & Africana Studies
Office : Chancellors
Links : [[evebowe, Email]]
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 2:30-3:30 pm
Research Interests: Political theory; black political theory; feminist theory; theories of justice; democratic theory

Green, Omiyẹmi (Artisia)
William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Theatre and Africana Studies
Email: [[avgreen]]

Jabang, Abdoulie
Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies
Office: Blair 313
Email: [[ajabang]]
Regional Areas of Research: Modern Africa, Senegambia and The Gambia
Thematic Areas of Research: Environmental History; Histories of Development, Technology, Energy, Imperialism, Citizenship; Regimes of Power: Class, Gender, Class, Masculinity, Generational and Religious Difference, and Inequality

Kunda, Lily
Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies and American Studies
Email : [[lkunda]]
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-2 pm (Boswell 103B)
Areas of Specialization: Media Studies, Race, Popular Culture, Digital Media, Television, New Media, Cultural Studies, Celebrity Studies, Black Studies, Gender Studies, Identity.

Osakwe, Chima
Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies
Office: Tucker Hall 010
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.50 am -11.50 am (Fall 2026)
Phone: 757-221-2486
Email: [[cjosakwe]]

Osiapem, Iyabo
Teaching Professor of Linguistics & Africana Studies
Office: Boswell Hall 101B & Blow 236
Phone: 757-221-3904
Email: [[ifosiapem]]

Sanford, Mei-Mei
Associate Teaching Professor of Africana Studies
Office: Boswell Hall 101
Email: mesanf@wm.edu

Spencer, Suzette
Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies
Office: Tucker Hall 024
Email: [[saspencer]]

Thelwell, Chinua Akimaro
Associate Professor of Africana Studies & History
Office: Blair 354
Email: [[cathelwell]]
Regional Areas of Research: Ancient to Modern Africa, United States
Thematic Areas of Research: African American, Comparative and Transnational, Cultural/Intellectual, Diaspora and Migration, Popular Culture and Media, Race and Ethnicity

Turits, Richard Lee
Professor of History, Africana Studies and Global Studies
Office: Blair 225
email: [[rturits]]
Regional Areas of Research: Latin America and the Caribbean
Thematic Areas of Research: Caribbean, Latin America, U.S. Empire, Race & Racism