Contact Information
Lindley Hall 300
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Tel: 740-593-4546
Fax: 740-593-0671
E-mail: African American Studies

The Department of African American Studies History
The Center for Afro-American Studies, which eventually became the Department of African American Studies, was founded as a college in 1969. Recognized as one of the oldest programs in the United States, the Center was placed under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1980. The primary goal of the Center thereafter with its transformation to departmental status in 1984 was to offer a four year program of study for majors in what eventually became the Department of African American Studies.

The Department also offered a program of study for its minors. For more than four decades, the Department has labored to enrich and broaden the educational experiences of students at Ohio University. Many of its majors have either gone on to graduate school and/or carved for themselves influential careers in a variety of professional fields including law, the performing arts, international affairs, religion, politics, education, and business. The Department’s faculty has also made valuable contributions to the field of African American in the United States and around the world.

Some major historical landmarks
•1985-Dr. Francine Child was appointed Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies

•1994-The Afro-American Studies Department changed its name to the Department of African American Studies

•2001-Dr. Vibert Cambridge was appointed Interim Chair of the Department, and eventually the Chair

•2003-The Board of Trustees approved the creation of the African American Research and Service Institute

•2004-The Department launched the journal- Black Praxis in both electronic and print formats

•2005-The Department appointed a Coordinator for its Research and Service Institute