African studies returns to Grinnell

was because students did not want to take a concentration.

Clark Lindgren, chair of the faculty and Patricia A. Johnson, professor of neuroscience, described the difference between a concentration, major and a department. Whereas majors are defined by “a collection of courses,” departments are defined by a “collection of faculty,” he said. According to Lindgren, departments are inherently interdisciplinary, and they have the responsibility for serving students beyond the major.

“The problem with concentrations is they are even more elusive than majors. They don’t have any home,” Lindgren said. “They don’t involve as many courses, and they tend to wax and wane depending on student interest.”

Given the history of Black and Africana studies majors and concentrations fading quickly at Grinnell, the desire for creating an African diaspora studies department was to give it more permanence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of faculty and staff met virtually to figure out how to facilitate the development of an African diaspora studies department at Grinnell. The group, including Stephanie Jones, associate professor of education, helped bring in two consultants with experience building departments connected to African diaspora or Black studies, and they gave advice about what the faculty should be aware of when approaching the creation of the department. A report was then sent to the president’s office and the dean’s office, who took over fundraising and organizing a faculty vote.

Beronda Montgomery, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the College, worked at the fundraising stage, communicating to external donors the purpose of the program and how it was different from other similar Black studies at Grinnell. “Part of that difference was the establishment of a department and the ongoing fundraising for an endowed chair. Having an endowed chair position and a department communicates a longer term commitment,” Montgomery said.

Jones said, “situating it as a department was strategic. Rather than bringing in one faculty member to begin a program, we wanted to house it structurally at the College.”

The Executive Council recently passed the faculty’s proposal for the department. The next step will be hiring a senior-level endowed faculty member, who will be integral to the process of developing the curriculum and goals of the department, and hiring two additional faculty members. As such, the future of what the department will look like and what classes will be taught is unknown to everyone involved.

According to Jones, the importance of this department at Grinnell should not be questioned. “I wonder if any other major or concentration has been asked about their importance or of why they should exist. Why do we have chemistry? We’re not hating on chemistry. We totally need that as a major and a field to exist. And I feel the same way about African diaspora studies,” she said. “The reality is that this is something that we need as much as we need air and water.”

“There’s evidence that having such a department can help contribute to a culture that more broadly impacts recruitment and retention of students, staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds,” Montgomery said.

Will Donaldson `23 said he did re-