Faculty
Faculty
| Name | Contact | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Rose Brewer Professor |
839 Social Sciences 612-624-9305 [email protected] |
Social and behavioral sciences, public policy and development, African diasporic studies |
| Njeri Githire Associate Professor |
848 Social Sciences 612-625-1687 [email protected] |
African artistic and cultural production, African diasporic studies |
| Rahsaan Mahadeo Assistant Professor |
852 Social Sciences 612-624-9847 [email protected] |
Critical race and ethnic studies, Black studies, time, abolition, radical social and political thought, youth, the life course perspective, urban sociology |
| Tade Okediji Professor |
868 Social Sciences 612-624-8957 [email protected] |
Social and behavioral sciences, public policy and development, Africa and African diasporic studies |
| Yuichiro Onishi Associate Professor |
874 Social Sciences 612-625-0513 [email protected] |
African American history, Asian American studies, African diaspora studies |
| Olivia Polk Assistant Professor |
Starting Fall 2025 | Black feminist theory, queer theory, 19th and 20th century African American literature, Black visual culture, gender and sexuality studies |
| Ana Cláudia São Bernardo Assistant Professor |
825 Social Sciences 612-624-9847 [email protected] |
Black diaspora studies, Afro-Brazilian studies, gender, women and sexuality studies, global studies, Black diasporic literatures and cultures, Black geography |
|
Bula Sirika Wayessa
Assistant Professor |
872 Social Sciences
612-624-5083
[email protected] |
African archeology, social marginalization, the materiality of social identity, mobility, ontology, and agricultural change |
| Josef Woldense Assistant Professor |
878 Social Sciences 612-624-0362 [email protected] |
Elite politics; authoritarian regimes, African political institutions and social network analysis |
Instructors
| Name | Contact | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Khadar Jama Head Somali Language Instructor |
823 Social Sciences 612-624-8571 [email protected] |
African languages (Somali) |
| Hassan Hade Teaching Specialist |
852 Social Sciences 612-624-8571 [email protected] |
African languages (Somali) |
| Angaluki Muaka Senior Teaching Specialist |
856 Social Sciences 612-625-0185 [email protected] |
African Languages (Swahili), African diasporic studies |
| Yolanda Williams Lecturer |
836 Social Sciences 612-624-0122 [email protected] |
African American literature, art, and history |
Affiliate Faculty
Affiliate faculty have homes in other departments, but hold appointments in our African American & African Studies department.
| Name | Contact | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Bledsoe Assistant Professor |
414 Social Sciences 612-625-6080 [email protected] |
Geography. Environment & Society |
| Nathaniel Mills Associate Professor |
Pillsbury Hall 612-625-8444 [email protected] |
English |
| Michael Minta Professor |
1337 Social Sciences 612-626-5632 [email protected] |
Political Science |
| August Nimtz Professor |
1327 Social Sciences 612-624-1512 [email protected] |
Political Science |
| Elliott H. Powell Professor |
203 Scott Hall
72 Pleasant St SE |
American Studies
|
| Jamele Watkins Assistant Professor |
327C Folwell Hall 612-625-9350 [email protected] |
German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch |
| Chotsani Elaine Dean Assistant Professor |
E277 Regis Center
612-625-8096 |
Art |
Faculty Emeriti
| Name | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Keletso Atkins | Africa, African diasporic studies |
| Victoria Coifman | Africa, African diasporic studies |
| John Wright | African American literature, art, and history; Africa and African diasporic studies |