CAAS Synergy Aug-Dec 2013

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STUDEIS

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On December 4, 2013, the Center for African American Studies had the honor of hosting four faculty members who inspired us with their work at the 2nd Annual CAAS “An Evening with Authors.” Students, faculty, staff, and community members were all in attendance. Everyone was thrilled to hear the journeys of how these marvelous authors began their journey as a writer, as well as hear an excerpt from their latest book. Attendees also had the chance to ‘mix and mingle’ with each other at the end of the presentations.

Don’t forget to Save the Date for the 2nd Annual CAAS Conference on February 21-22, 2014!

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3 3 Director Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW Program Assistant Hadia A. Miller, BA Coordinator of Special Programs Chaunte White, M.Ed. Student Associate Dorothea Ivey (MSW & MPA Candidate) Student Assistants Esther Kentish (Political Science) Daniel Leichman (Advertising) Yvonne Williams (Criminology Criminal Justice) Christopher Woolen (Exercise Science) Graduate Interns Katasha Copridge (Social Work) Courtney Miller (Social Work) CAAS Adjunct Faculty Dr. Pamela Hill, Ph.D. Ray Jordan II, ABD

Contents: Director’s Welcome

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Faculty Spotlight

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Student Engagement

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Community Engagement: Community Service Project

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Curriculum

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Calendar of Events

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Give to CAAS

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Academic Calendar

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AFFILIATE FACULTY 2013-2014 Faculty Fellows Dr. Ifeoma Amah Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dr. Krystal Beamon, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology FACULTY ASSOCIATES 2013-2014

Dr. Ben Agger, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology and Director of Center for Theory Dr. Myrtle P. Bell, Dept. of Management Dr. Elten Briggs, Dept. of Marketing Dr. Michan A. Connor, Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies/ Urban Affairs Dr. Marvin Dulaney, Dept. of History, Chair Dr. Cedrick May, Dept. of English Dr. Anne Bain- Nordberg, School of Social Work Dr. Jason Shelton, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology Dr. David M. Sparks, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction and Uteach

ear CAAS family, Happy New Year! I hope that 2014 has begun on an encouraging note and that your endeavors are progressive and successful.

Established one academic year ago, August 2012, this newsletter provides updates on our progress, introduces a team of fabulous affiliate faculty, and profiles our outstanding students. At its core, the CAAS aims to facilitate the discourse on race and contextualize it in the historical, cultural, and community influences that shape the diverse experiences of Blacks in America: Students are minoring in African American Studies (AAST); We have developed six classes through our unit and coordinated 28 cross-listed courses; Faculty Fellows are conducting community-based research with support from the center; Faculty Associates are participating in CAAS civic engagement activities; The CAAS Emerging Scholars Program, a student development initiative for first year students, is operating for the 2nd year; The CAAS Emerging Leaders Initiative, a program for upperclassmen, is in its inaugural year; AND we have constant contact with community members and organizations on joint ventures.

Your commitment, both in- kind and financially, make it possible for us to continue to build the infrastructure that will enlighten, inspire and empower student, faculty and staff, and community stakeholders to drive social change within the Black community specifically and the broader society generally.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

All the best,

Schnavia

Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW Director

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Congratulations to Professor Sedrick Huckaby on his ‘Big Mama’ and family exhibition at Valley House Gallery in Dallas, TX. The Valley House exhibition, “Everyday Glory,” includes more than 250 works completed there in the past year, an extraordinary output in anyone’s book.

Huckaby is a Painting Assistant Professor at UT Arlington in the school of Art and Art History.

*You can view more of his work at uta.edu/art and valleyhouse.com.

Congratulations to Dr. Elten Briggs, UT Arlington associate professor of marketing and CAAS Faculty Affiliate, on his new publication; “Shared ethnicity effects on service encounters: A study across three U.S. subcultures.” It was published in the Journal of Business Research.

This research investigates how contact employee–customer shared ethnicity affects face-to-face service encounters. Drawing on insights from cultural orientation literature, social identity theory, and resource exchange theory, the authors: Briggs and Montoya, propose that encounters involving employees and customers from traditionally collectivist subcultures who are minorities in their country of residence will be especially susceptible to the effects of shared ethnicity.

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Congratulations to Dr. Krystal Beamon, Assistant Professor of Sociology and CAAS Faculty Fellow, on her new book., “The Enduring Color Line in U.S. Athletics”

In “The Enduring Color Line in U.S. Athletics,” Beamon assembles findings from previous research, data from the NCAA and interviews with professional athletes to explore sports as a social construction. The book is part of the academic series, Framing the 21st Century Social Issues and is published by Routledge. Chris M. Messer, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Colorado State University-Pueblo, is the co-author.

Q & A with Dr. Beamon What motivated you to pursue the current focus of your career?

Sport is such an influential institution in American society. It mirrors the human experience in so many ways. My brothers and I were elite athletes and sports were a key component of my upbringing that shaped my childhood and carved out my future. The systematic study of race and sport gives us insight about a prominent aspect of the African-American experience. As a professor, I have the opportunity to study topics that interest me, as well as teach students. Research and teaching are my passion and in this career I am blessed to do both.

What has been one of the greatest rewards in your role thus far?

My greatest reward thus far is seeing my students succeed. As an African-American woman from a working class background, a first generation college graduate, so many of the students here see themselves in me. I've had the privilege to be a mentor to students and push them to enter graduate school.

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On November 22, 2013, CAAS

Activities included: monthly group

Emerging Scholars, Emerging

workshops and individual meetings,

Leaders, and African-American

reflection assignments, peer mentor

Studies minor students joined forces

experience, end of year projects and

to kick-off our High School Outreach

conference presentations.

Service Project at Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

The students shared testimonials of their academic experiences, answered questions about CAAS programs, and gave feedback about student life on the UTA campus during Polytechnic's College and Career Fair.

The mission of the CAAS Emerging Scholars Program is to develop and provide educational, cultural, and social models of support that strengthen the foundation of exploration and learning for first year male and female students interested in African American studies and/or volunteering in the Black community.

“The CAAS program actually had the biggest impact on me because it pushed me to do many things as far as interacting and meeting new people. It also made me get very involved by giving back to the community.�

-Emerging Scholar 2012-13

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My CAAS Experience By: Lindsey Anderson & Arthur Slater CAAS Minor Students, Fall 2013 At its core, the CAAS aims to facilitate the discourse on race and contextualize it in the historical, cultural, and community influences that shape the diverse experiences of Blacks in America. Through teaching, civic engagement, and community-based research, the CAAS will serve as a vital intellectual and social resource for the community, on and off campus.

What does CAAS being on campus mean to you?

Anderson: "I've been involved with CAAS at UTA,

actually a little bit prior to its birth. I created my major to be tailored around African American Studies before CAAS was brought to campus. So I was really excited when CAAS was brought to campus. Because that meant I could declare my minor officially. I've been involved in different classes, different lectures, and various marches on campus as well (organized protests). It is very important. So I think that, I guess with the way that I've been involved, it has allowed me to develop significantly."

Slater: "Having CAAS here on this campus, well first of all, is a benefit to the campus and the community as well. It raises the consciousness of, not only the African Americans at the university and in the city, since CAAS does have outreach in the community. It also raises the awareness of other individuals of other races of the African American experience; How African Americans got here, the things we endured and how we got up to this point today with the current president being African American."

I am sure that CAAS will continue to grow and make an even bigger impact at UT Arlington, in the surrounding community and likely across the nation. CAAS’ mission to ‘enlighten, inspire, and empower’ will forever remain with me as I venture toward the next steps in my career.

CONGRATULATIONS ARTHUR!

BACHELORS DEGREE IN HISTORY MINOR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES GRADUATED DECEMBER 2013

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(picture above) Emerging Scholars and Emerging Leaders mentor/mentee mix and mingle; (picture to the right) Arthur Slater assisting with the CAAS Community Service Project.

2014 CAAS Emerging Scholars at CAAS Evening of Authors CAAS at Ranger Experience

Emerging Scholars and Leaders

MORE PICTURES AVAILABLE ON FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/UTACAAS

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https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs185/1114651213575/img/38.jpg CAAS mk

Minor Requirements The African American Studies Minor is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program that prepares students for critical thinking and discourse on race and contextual factors, social consciousness and awareness, and civic engagement. For more information, refer to our complete course on the CAAS website.

Required: Courses include: 18 credit hours with 9 in AAST AAST 2300 - Intro to African American Studies HIST 3365 - African American History or SOCI 3338 - Contemporary Black Experience AAST Service Learning Capstone

How to Add the African American Studies Minor If you are interested in obtaining a minor in African American Studies: 1) Complete the Minor Approval Form and have it signed by your major department advisor.

2) Once the Minor Approval Form is completed, schedule an appointment with the CAAS advisor and bring the following:

 completed degree plan (signed by your major department advisor)  minor approval form (signed by your major department advisor) and  Maverick Academic Progress (MAP) To make an advising appointment, please call 817-272-9642 or email millerha@uta.edu.

AAST 2300-001 AAST 4399-001 AAST 3338-001 AAST 4350-001 AAST 4391-001 AAST 6391-001 AAST 2337-001 AAST 3366-001 AAST 4318-001 AAST 4375-001 AAST 3337-001

Intro to African American Studies Capstone African American Studies Contemporary Black Experience Special Topics in African American Studies Conference Course Conference Course Economics of Social Issues African- American History, 1865-Present Politics of African Americans African History Racial & Ethnic Groups in U.S.

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Past Events - Fall 2013       

Activities Day Fair Texas Rangers Experience - September 23 Emerging Scholars and Emerging Leaders Mix & Mingle – October 2 Power of Philanthropy and Entertainment – October 4 Civic Engagement in the Black Community – October 8 & 10 Homecoming Parade – November 15 An Evening with Authors – December 4 *Visit uta.edu/caas to view photos of CAAS events

Coming Up – Spring 2014 CAAS Power Hour Lectures: (University Center)   

February 5 March 5 April 2

SAVE THE DATE: 2nd Annual CAAS Conference: Critical Issues in the Black Community 

February 21-22

Ongoing Visual Resource Commons and Gallery The Jonathan A. Campbell and Tanya G. Dowdey African Art Collection is a multi-dimensional collection of 11th-20th century art and artifacts. Free. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Mindful Moments Learn techniques to help deal effectively with stress.

Free. 12:15-12:45 p.m. Fridays, Room 310, Ransom Hall. Health Services.

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Established August 2012, the mission of the Center for African American Studies (CAAS) at the University of Texas at Arlington is to cultivate an exceptional transdisciplinary experience through teaching, civic engagement, and community-based research focused on the diverse contextual conditions of African Americans.

Our purpose is to foster student, faculty, and community capacity to create progressive solutions to social problems.

Endowed funding is being sought to support:     

Lectures, events, and conferences Student seminars Graduate fellowships Undergraduate assistantships Faculty and student research

For individual giving, please contact:

For foundation giving, please contact:

Michelle Gilchrist at gilchrist@uta.edu

Shawn Farrell, Director of Foundation Relations at shawnf@uta.edu

Myke Holt at mholt@uta.edu

For more information about the needs of CAAS, please contact: Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, CAAS Director, at shatcher@uta.edu To give a gift, go to www.uta.edu/caas/support.html 12

Jan 12 · Jan 13 · Jan 13 · Jan 14 · Jan 15 · Jan 16 · Jan 17 · Jan 20 · Jan 29 · Mar 10· Mar 11· Mar 12· Mar 13· Mar 14· Mar 28· Apr 07 · May 02 May 03 May 05 May 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 09 May 10 May 11

Registration Ends for Spring Term - Regular Session First day of classes Late registration Late registration Late registration Late registration Late registration Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday Census date Spring Vacation Spring Vacation Spring Vacation Spring Vacation Spring Vacation Last day to drop classes; submit requests to advisor prior to 4:00 pm Registration begins for Summer and Fall 2014 Terms Last day of classes Final exams Final exams Final exams Final exams Final exams Final exams Commencement ceremonies Commencement ceremonies Commencement ceremonies

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How do you contact The Center for African American Studies?

CAAS is located on the UT Arlington campus in the Swift Center, Suite 129.

Visitor parking is on the corner of UTA Blvd and Summit.

1022 UTA BLVD., SUITE 129 BOX #19024 ARLINGTON, TX 76019 Phone: 817.272.9642 Fax: 817.272.9643 Email: caas@uta.edu

CAAS WEBSITE: www.uta.edu/caas

Facebook.com/groups/UTACAAS Twitter: UTArlingtonCAAS Email to join our listserv at: CAAS@LISTSERV.UTA.EDU