CA
AS
Synergy
HONORING TRADITIONS & CELEBRATING FIRSTS!
3rd Annual CAAS Evening With Authors
Center for African American Studies
Volume 3 Issue 1 July - December 2014
CAAS’ 3rd Annual Evening with Authors recognized celebrated Black au-
thors and leaders within the DFW community. Held in the Carlisle Suite at
the University of Texas at Arlington, the featured authors were: Mr. Reby
Cary, Dr. Constance Hilliard and Ms. Katrina Williams. It opened with an
elegant reception followed by the featured authors speaking about their ex-
periences and writings. The closing of Evening with Authors entailed book
giveaways, book signings, and graduating Emerging Leaders receiving their
CAAS stoles. Overall, this event provided attendees the ability to get up
close and personal with noted authors and celebrate their work in an inti-
mate setting.
Black Maverick Weekend: CAAS Homecoming Tailgate
Provost Ronald Elsenbaumer, Dr. Schnavia Hatcher;
Authors: Mr. Reby Cary, Dr. Constance Hilliard and Ms. Katrina Williams
Current students, faculty, staff and alumni enjoyed games, food, dancing and more
before heading over to College Park Center to cheer on the UTA Maverick Men’s
Basketball Team.
Rain did not stop the fun at the Inaugural CAAS
“Black Maverick Weekend” Homecoming event
with special guest, K-104 radio personality “Cat
Daddy”. This event served to connect Black
Alumni with UT Arlington and CAAS. Partici-
pants of the Black Maverick Weekend were en-
couraged to attend the Homecoming Step Show,
CAAS Tailgate and UTA Homecoming Men’s
Basketball game.
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Inside this Edition: Director’s Note…..……………………………………….3
African American Studies Minor…………………….. 4
Perspectives...………………..…………………………..6
Student Engagement………………….………………7
Faculty Focus.....…………………………………………8
Community-Based Research………...…….…………9
Campus & Community Engagement………..……10
Congratulations ……………………………………….12
CAAS Recognition…………………………………….13
Save the Date………………………………………….14
Give a Gift………………………………………………15
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A Note from the Director
SCHNAVIA SMITH HATCHER, PHD, MSW DIRECTOR
Greetings,
As a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), with 15% African American students, many stakeholders were elated when the center was
established at University of Texas at Arlington August 2012. With a mission to facilitate the discourse on race and contextualize it
in the historical, cultural, and community influences, CAAS is growing as a vital intellectual and social resource for the
community. As a native of Selma, Alabama, a city best known for its place in the advocacy for civil rights, equality, and social
justice, I remain honored to serve you- on and off campus - as the director of this extraordinary unit.
Three years ago, I introduced Synergy to the community- you- to profile the center and its components: curriculum and instruction;
research and policy analysis; and civic engagement and outreach.
Beginning as a blank slate, I am extremely proud of the collaborations and programs developed, organized, and hosted since we
became operational:
-Fourteen Power Hour Lectures
-Three Evenings of Authors
-Two 2-day Community Research Conferences on Critical Issues in the Black Community
-Four African American Studies Minor graduates in 2013-2014- with approximately Twenty AAST Minors currently declared
-Over One Hundred students participating in our Student Development Initiative in 18 months- with many more volunteering with
our service learning projects
-Nine undergraduate and graduate interns from several units across campus
-Five undergraduate and graduate students supervised in conference courses- independent study classes with me
-Faculty serving as affiliates, with several participating in CAAS students workshops, service learning activities, and research
projects
-AND numerous community partnerships- both formal and informal- that prepare our students to create progressive solutions for
social change.
CAAS also sponsored a trip for three UT Arlington students to participate in The Freedom Ride 2014, a journey that
commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The students (3 of 49 across the nation) were provided an
opportunity, as a new generation of leaders, to explore history firsthand from civil rights activists, many who were college-age
themselves when they began their journey 50 years ago, and be inspired to actively engage in the struggle for justice.
We are excitedly planning another semester of #CAASIMPACT, particularly our 3rd Annual CAAS Conference February 20-21,
2015. You will receive more information in the coming weeks!
This bi-annual publication will profile the activities mentioned above and several other extraordinary academic, research, and
community events and accomplishments that occurred during the previous semester. As you read about student development and
success, faculty and staff contributions, and community collaborations, I hope that you will be inspired to continue to be in
involved by giving of your time, talents, and treasures this year.
All the best,
Schnavia
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AAST 4399 CAPSTONE is the final required class for AAST minors. The students were tasked with design-
ing a research project that focused on historical and contemporary issues in the Black Community.
AAST CAPSTONE PRESENTATIONS
FALL 2014
Kandra Jones
Psychology, Junior
Code-Switching
Cedrick Finnie
History, Senior
Cool Pose: Answering Gender Role Questions
Boniface Djihula
Social Work, Senior
Challenges Young People Face in DFW and Nationally
Brianna Franklin
Social Work, Senior
Black Women and Identity
African American Studies Minor
Brianna Franklin is the first AAST minor recipient to be awarded the
AAST/School of Social Work Scholarship Award
based on her academic excellence.
Congratulations Brianna!!!
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African American Studies Minor
Requirements include:
18 Total Credit hours
(6 classes) with 9 hrs in AAST
Intro to Black Studies
African American History
Special Topics in African
American Studies
Service Learning Internships
Collaborations with units
across campus including:
ANTH, CRCJ, ECON, ENGL,
LING, MANA, POLS, PSYC,
SOCI, SOCW
Minor Requirements Professional Opportunities
Careers Include:
Business and Technology
Education
News & Media
Literature & Poetry
Medicine & Health
Performing Arts &
Entertainment
History
Politics & Government/
Law
Social Work
Are you passionate about African American Studies?
Become an AAST Minor!
For more information about the AAST Minor contact
CAAS at 817-272-9642 or [email protected]
Brianna Franklin
Social Work, Senior
Black Women and Identity
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A THIN K P IE C E ON ST UD EN T ENG AG EME NT
Be Their Glory: An Open Letter to Our Students Concerning Involvement & Engagement
Perspectives
For information on CAAS Student Development Initiatives, or ways to get involved,
contact Chaunte’ White at 817-272-9642 or [email protected]
Student Engagement
CHAUNTE’ WHITE, M.ED.
CAAS COORDINATOR
I’ve always felt that involvement and engagement is important for all students, as it
aids in their development and allows them to reach their highest potential as matricu-
lates in a collegiate environment. I also feel that it is extremely important for Black
students, in particular, to be immersed and committed to furthering the evolution of
their campus. Why is it so important for Black students specifically? The answer is
simple: It is your legacy.
The history of Blacks in higher education can be summed up quickly in a few phrases:
denied access, segregation, separate but not quite so equal, integration, activism, and
access. Our past involves strong courageous collegiate activists such as John Lewis,
Coretta Scott King, Stokely Carmichael, and Diane Nash. Students like Fred Jones,
who was a Black student leader and activist at UT Arlington in 1965 that spearheaded
the fight to abolish the Rebel Theme, can also be considered heroes in this arena. It is
because of Fred’s involvement, and the work of so many other Black student leaders,
that we can proudly call ourselves ‘Mavericks’.
The whole notion of college student activism was born out of the civil rights movement and many of the educational
opportunities that we are afforded today are the result of student advocacy efforts. From the Student Non-violent Co-
ordinating Committee (SNCC) to lunch counter sit-ins, from freedom rides to voter registration marches, students
were major contributors to an activism effort that spurred some of the most important legislative and education action
in this country. CAAS itself wouldn't exist if not for the radical social movements of the 60’s that spawned the crea-
tion of Black Studies centers across the nation.
How exactly does one honor such a rich lineage of cultural greatness? By being visible and being active. UT Arling-
ton serves the largest number of Black students in the Texas System, but what does that really mean if they are not
visible and actively integrating themselves into the fabric of this institution? Granted, the students most likely to read
this piece are the students who are already ‘involved’. If this is the case, I encourage you to do more and to do better;
become more visible and get more involved. Seek out leadership opportunities and work hard to be a contributor. Al-
so, reach out to someone else who may not be as active, and help get them connected to the campus.
My argument is simple: you have a responsibility to carry on the legacy. How can you not put forth an attempt to be
your greatest self when so much effort has gone into securing the freedoms & opportunities that you enjoy today? As
the current events in our country begin to mirror our past, I encourage you all to seek out ways to be involved and
engaged on campus and in the community like never before. Ferguson, the NAACP Building Bombing, the Nigerian
Massacre, whatever the cause, I implore you to draw upon the legacy of great Black college student leaders and be
inspired by the past to change the narrative of our future. I am hesitant to say that you owe it to them, but…you do.
Bear the torch, keep the flame lit, run with it…Say thank you, not just with words, but with actions. Make sure the
efforts of those that proceeded you were not made in vain… make them proud…be their glory.
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Student Engagement Study Breaks
Study Breaks provide stu-
dents the opportunity to use
CAAS as a resource to sup-
port and further their aca-
demic success. This reoccur-
ring event is designed to
promote positive student
interaction in a focused,
supportive environment.
Monthly Student Development Workshops
Monthly workshops are held for CAAS Emerging Scholars
and Leaders to work on various student development
goals and objectives. Workshops were held in October
and November of the fall semester and focused on men-
tor training, developing strategies to achieve success,
and navigating the professional course as young Black
men and women.
G.O.O.D Mentor Mixer
The G.O.O.D Mentor Mixer was the first event
for the Getting Out Our Dreams Mentor Pro-
gram. During this event, students were
matched with their mentee for the year and
participated in activities designed to facilitate
their connection and bond moving forward.
Master Class
Master Class Community Mentor
Dinners are designed to connect
students to professionals from the
DFW community to discuss person-
al, academic, and professional
challenges, develop strategies to
overcome such challenges, and
celebrate accomplishments.
Progressive Steps Toward
Student Success!
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Faculty Focus
Dr. David Sparks is currently serving as a fellow with the UTA Center for Service
Learning where he is developing a service learning course for the UTeach pro-
gram. He was awarded a $2,000 Fellowship from the Center at the end of last
year. Dr. Sparks also recently received a $5,000 grant from Academic Partner-
ships to be conducted with Dr. Kathryn Pole. The title of their project is “Using
Anonymous Avatar-Based Discussions to Engage in Discourse on Stereotyping
in Master’s Level Diversity Courses.” They will be conducting the research with
online diversity courses in the Master’s programs in the Department of Curricu-
lum and Instruction. Dr. Sparks also has an article accepted for publication en-
titled “An Exploration of the Connections Between Institution Type and Per-
ceived Levels of Stereotype Threat in African American Engineering Students”
which will be published in the Spring 2015 edition of the Journal of African
American Males in Education.
Dr. Sonja S. Watson recently published a book, “The Politics of Race in Pana-
ma: Afro-Hispanic and West Indian Literary Discourses of Conten-
tion” (University Press of Florida, 2014) which deals with the forging of Afro-
Panamanian identity from the 1920’s to the present. Her article, "La identidad
afro-panamena: pasado, presente y futuro" (Afro-Panamanian Identity: Past,
Present and Future) was also accepted for publication with the Mexican jour-
nal, LiminaR: Estudios sociales y humanísticos.
Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney recently published
his research about Julia Scott Reed. She
was one of the first blacks to work in the
newsroom of a major daily newspaper in
the South. Her biography is to be pub-
lished in the book Texas Women: Their His-
tories, Their Lives. This book is edited by
Stephanie Cole, Rebecca Sharpless and
Elizabeth Hayes Turner and published by
University of Georgia Press (2015). Dr.
Dulaney’s research on Mrs. Reed is titled
“Julia Scott Reed: Presenting the Truth
about African Americans in Dallas” (pp.
389—409).
News and Updates from Some of UT Arlington’s Finest!
Dr. David Sparks
Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction
and Uteach
CAAS Faculty Affiliate
Dr. Sonja Watson
Department of Modern Language
Women and Gender Studies, Director
Former CAAS Research Fellow
Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney
Department of History ,Chair
CAAS Faculty Affiliate
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Community-Based Research
The Seventh Bi-Annual REP Conference was hosted by Texas Christian University's ADDRAN College of
Liberal Arts at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. Approximately 400 participants attended,
representing a large range of disciplines. UT Arlington CAAS conducted several sessions (Friday, October
24). CAAS provided a great introduction for the Center for African American Studies to attendees, with Dr.
Hatcher serving as moderator during the sessions. The sessions began with a presentation by Dante Bryant
explaining his study on capturing the true experiences of the African American male on a predominately
white campus. Dr. Hatcher then detailed the purpose and growth of the Center. She was followed by
Chaunte' White who described the assessment of the Center's student development programs, such as the
Emerging Scholars Program and Emerging Leaders Initiative. Following them was Dr. Amah, who informed
attendees about the dynamic changes the school system is facing regarding a more diverse community.
Undergraduate student assistant, Christopher Woolen, presented a joint-project with Dr. Eusebius Small,
profiling the health inequalities between the communities of Texas and how it affects the HIV/Aids
epidemic. The session was concluded by undergraduate student assistants, Kent Justin Brown and Iriel
Hampton, summarizing the impact of the Center of African American Studies for students on the campus of
UT-Arlington, along with its social capitol growth. CAAS was honored to be a part of this conference.
Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference October 2014
Dante Bryant, MSW
Social Work Doctoral Student
Bob Ray Sanders, Keynote Speaker
Dean Andrew Schoolmaster (TCU), Con-
ference Organizer
Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, CAAS Director
Chaunte’ White, M.Ed.
CAAS Coordinator
Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, CAAS Director
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Campus & Community Engagement
State of the Black UT Arlington Student
CAAS Power Hour Lecture :
The Freedom Ride
3rd Annual Opening Lecture: This lecture fo-
cused on the experiences of three students
who were sponsored by CAAS for Freedom
Ride 2014 travel to Washington DC. The three
students spoke and met with several original
Freedom Riders involved in the Civil Rights
movement, learning about their social justice
background. The lecture, moderated by UT
Arlington professor Ray Jordan, also commem-
orated the 50 year anniversary of the Civil
Rights Act.
October 2014
September 2014 State of the Black College Student:
In partnership with the Black Student
Association (BSA), CAAS and several
other campus organizations came to-
gether to address the current state of
affairs for Black students at UT Arlington.
Three main areas were highlighted: Ac-
ademics, Health & Wellness, and Cam-
pus Involvement. Guest speakers in-
cluded Latoya Oduniyi, Student Health
Center Development Specialist, and
Chaunte’ White, CAAS Coordinator .
Members of A Collection of Brothers
(COB), National Association of Colored
Women’s Club (NACWC), African Stu-
dent Association (ASO), National Pan-
Hellenic Council (NPHC), National As-
sociation for the Advancement of Col-
ored People (NAACP) were all present-
ed and contributed to the dialogue, as
well as the presentations.
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Campus & Community Engagement
CAAS Power Hour Lecture:
Black in Business
Critical Conditions:
Minority Health Panel & Discussion
“Black In Business: The Realities of the Journey to Independence and Ownership”
Mr. Jamie Grant, CRPC, President of JDG Wealth Management Group and Chair-
man Fort Worth Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, lectured on the importance
of business and working to become your own boss. During this lecture he shared the
steps he took to go from employee to entrepreneur, and how his commitment to
empowering his community granted opportunities for himself.
CAAS and the UT Arlington Central Library collaborated on Critical Conditions:
Minority Health Panel and Discussion. The panel, featuring experts from the fields of
mental health, health psychology, and nursing covered prevalent health issues
faced by minority communities, including mental health disparities and other major
health conditions.
November 2014
Campus & Community Engagement
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Congratulations!
Continue to strive and give your best efforts so that you will obtain your greatest rewards.
We hope you stay connected to CAAS so that we may follow your growth and success!
Fall 2014 Graduates
Dimekia Hicks, Social Work
Undergraduate Intern Rita Hill-Wales, Social Work
Undergraduate Intern La’Keali Felton, Social Work
Emerging Leader
Cedrick Finnie,
History
AAST Minor
Michael Coleman II,
Advertising
Emerging Leader
Valene Garr,
Biological Chemistry
Biology Minor
Emerging Leader
Shunkecia Lewis
Public Relations
Emerging Leader
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Continue to strive and give your best efforts so that you will obtain your greatest rewards.
We hope you stay connected to CAAS so that we may follow your growth and success!
CAAS Recognition
Christopher Woolen
CAAS Undergraduate Student Assistant 2014 Maverick of the Month Award
This award is given by the UTA Ambassadors in recognition
of Christopher’s outstanding service to the student body
by living the Maverick Way .
Christopher serves as an academic peer leader,
CAAS Emerging Leader, and a Student Congress Senator.
He also serves on President Karbhari’s Principles of
Community Committee.
Chaunte’ White, M.Ed
CAAS Coordinator 2014 GEM Award Recipient
This award is given by the School of Social Work to individuals
that have “Gone the Extra Mile” by contributing to the SSW, the
community, and to the success of UTA.
Dimekia Hicks
CAAS Undergraduate Intern 2014 Outstanding Bachelor’s Student for
UTA School of Social Work
This award is granted to students with high academic
performance and commitment to social work.
Dimekia was recently accepted into the Social Work
Graduate Program at UT Arlington.
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Save the Date
UPCOMING EVENTS
The New Black: Exploring Racial Identity from a
Contemporary Perspective
February 4, 2015
Dante Bryant and Dr. Jason Shelton
3rd Annual CAAS Conference
UT Arlington University Center
February 20 - 21, 2015
Women’s History Month Lecture: “Octavia Butler”
Co-Sponsored with Women and Gender Studies
March 4, 2015
Dr. Susana Morris
The Audacity of Injustice: Power & Contemporary
Acts of Violence
April 1, 2015
Dr. Anne Bain-Nordberg
CAAS Honors Recognition Ceremony
May 1, 2015
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Give a Gift
Established August 2012, the Center for African American Studies (CAAS) at the University of Texas
at Arlington aims to cultivate an exceptional transdisciplinary experience through teaching, civic
engagement, and community-based research focused on the diverse contextual conditions of Blacks in
America and society at large. Our purpose is to foster the development of student, faculty, and
community capacity to create progressive solutions that address social problems.
Endowed funding is being sought to support:
Lectures, events, and conferences
Student enrichment initiatives
Undergraduate and graduate scholarships
Faculty and student community-based research
For more information on how to support CAAS, please contact:
Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, CAAS Director, at [email protected]
To give a gift, go to www.uta.edu/caas/support.html
Thank you for your
Gift!!
2014 Donors
Schnavia S. Hatcher
Elvira A. Smith
2014 Sponsors
College of Liberal Arts
History Department
School of Social Work
Texas Rangers Ballpark
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Get Connected!