Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber Selected for Prestigious Research Seminar in Dakar

Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber from UDC’s Community College will participate in the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar in Dakar, Senegal, from January 3-21, 2024. This competitive seminar focuses on the history, culture, and socio-political life of Senegal, including significant site visits. Participants are expected to implement projects that promote globalization in their institutions after the seminar.

Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, Ph.D., a distinguished historian and director of the Division of Humanities and Criminology at UDC’s Community College, has been chosen to participate in a prestigious two-week research seminar in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled for January 3-21, 2024. This opportunity is part of the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar, a program recognized for its competitiveness and administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) alongside the West African Research Center (WARC).

The seminar will include visits to significant locations such as Goree Island, Toubacouta, and Saint-Louis, immersing participants in the rich cultural and historical context of Senegal. CAORC is committed to providing fully funded overseas seminars aimed at faculty and administrators from U.S. community colleges and minority-serving institutions, with the goal of promoting a global perspective that enhances cultural understanding and fosters critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills among students. Each seminar typically accommodates 12 to 15 participants.

Titled “West Africa and the Diaspora: Continuities and Transformations,” the seminar will include diverse activities such as lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and film screenings, addressing topics related to Senegal’s history, culture, arts, economy, and political landscape. Significantly, this seminar will spotlight Senegal’s spiritual diversity, religious tolerance, and the influence of emerging transnational movements on society, particularly concerning youth.

Participants are tasked with developing and executing a project designed to enhance international awareness on their campuses, to be completed within a year following the seminar. They must submit a project report and provide curriculum or documentation for inclusion on CAORC’s Open Educational Resources site. Furthermore, participants are also expected to contribute a brief article for the CAORC blog Field Notes, which must be submitted within three months following the conclusion of the program.

Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber’s selection for the CAORC-WARC 2024 Faculty Development Seminar represents a significant professional achievement, aimed at enriching educational perspectives in U.S. institutions. The seminar’s focus on collaboration and cultural understanding between West Africa and the diaspora serves not only to enhance the participants’ knowledge but also to promote the implementation of global initiatives within their respective campuses. As participants engage thoroughly with the seminar, their subsequent projects and contributions to academic discourse are anticipated to foster greater awareness and appreciation of international cultures among students.

Original Source: www.udc.edu