Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber of UDC’s Community College will participate in the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar in Dakar, Senegal, from January 3-21, 2024. This prestigious, fully-funded seminar focuses on the history, culture, and societal connections of West Africa and aims to develop projects enhancing cultural awareness on U.S. campuses.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, Ph.D., a historian and director of the Division of Humanities and Criminology at UDC’s Community College, has been selected to participate in a prestigious two-week research seminar in Dakar, Senegal, from January 3-21, 2024. This opportunity is part of the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar, an esteemed program offered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) in partnership with the West African Research Center (WARC).
The program is highly competitive and includes visits to significant locations such as Goree Island, Toubacouta, and Saint-Louis. CAORC aims to provide fully funded seminars for faculty and administrators from U.S. community colleges and minority-serving institutions to enhance educational perspectives, encouraging cultural awareness and the development of critical thinking and leadership skills.
The seminar titled “West Africa and the Diaspora: Continuities and Transformations” will encompass lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and film screenings addressing various aspects of Senegalese life, including history, culture, economy, and political influences, while examining West Africa’s connection to its diaspora.
A particular emphasis will be placed on Senegal’s spiritual diversity, religious tolerance, and the implications of growing transnational movements on society and youth. Participants will be tasked with creating and implementing a project to promote internationalization on their campuses, which must be executed within one year of the seminar’s conclusion.
Upon completion of the seminar, attendees are required to submit a project report along with curriculum documentation for inclusion on CAORC’s Open Educational Resources site. Furthermore, they must contribute a brief article to the CAORC blog, Field Notes, within three months following the seminar.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber’s selection for the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar marks a significant opportunity to enhance educational practices at community colleges. The seminar will not only provide a deeper understanding of West African culture and its diaspora but also emphasizes the importance of developing projects that promote global perspectives on campuses. This initiative aligns with CAORC’s mission to enrich educational environments, thereby fostering critical skills among students.
Original Source: www.udc.edu
