The Africana, Gender, and Identity Studies Department combines facets of religion, women and gender studies, and Black world studies to create an interdisciplinary and intersectional academic department. Students learn to analyze, critique, and fully understand experiences of identity in history and modern life. AGIS is a place for all students to expand their perspectives and apply important ideas to their everyday lives.
The new combined department continues to offer courses and degree programs in Black World Studies and Women and Gender Studies. All academic areas in the AGIS Department are interdisciplinary, combining social sciences, literature, queer and race theory, and humanities to provide a holistic view of the world.
Black World Studies deals with the integrity, continuity, and vitality of the international black experience. Students will learn different perspectives on the history and culture of Africa and its diasporas in Central America, North America, South America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.
The Women’s and Gender Studies major is an interdisciplinary program that examines how historical and current constructions of gender impact society. Students examine women’s issues, the role that constructions of gender play in shaping our thinking and social institutions, and the relationship between gender and other aspects of identity, including race, class, age, religion, and sexuality.
Introduction to Black World Studies, 1 African category course, 1 African-American category course, 2 electives
Introduction to Women and Gender, Women and Media, 3 electives
Dawn Chisebe is is a professor of Black World Studies with a focus in African history. She also teaches courses in Women and Gender Studies, such as Black Feminisms.
Professor Skandor teaches courses in Swahili and is involved in travel-learning programs at OWU.
Richelle Schrock is a professor of Women and Gender Studies with an expertise in international feminisms.
Professor Quaye teaches courses focusing on Africana Studies. His most recent research is centered around health and development internationally from a sociological perspective.
Professor Trimble offers survey and upper-level courses on gender and sexuality. Her most recent research is centered around the evolution of LGBTQ+ identities, discourses, and politics among young adults.
In OWU's semester-long Tanzania Program, you study African cultures as you travel throughout Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The program is affiliated with the University of Dar es Salaam and, depending on your goals, may include an internship with a professional, social service, or research institution.
Sisters United enhances the growth of African and African-American women students through awareness of cultural, social, and political perspectives. Women in Science provides encouragement for women science students through mentoring programs and by sponsoring lectures, panel discussions, and social activities.
Pride is an organization open to all members of the OWU community who are interested in the fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. PRIDE hosts a “Pride Prom” to celebrate the end of their annual PRIDE Week. They also organize many other social and activist events on campus.
The Sexual and Gender Equality House (SAGE) believes that people have different experiences based on their age, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnicity, etc. Members work as a community to bring successful programming to campus with special consideration of women and members of the LGBTIQA community. While encouraging diversity and fighting oppression and restrictive freedoms, SAGE provides a safe space for women and is a resource for those who believe in promoting gender equality on campus.
A Travel-Learning Course on nation building in Ghana employed a holistic focus on economic structures, medical systems, and West African history. During the two-week trip to Ghana, the class volunteered at a school and an orphanage.
The Spectrum Resource Center helps provide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer/questioning persons, their friends, their families, and allies with the tools to address LGBTIQA related issues and to assist in educating the campus community at large. The center provides reference materials, sponsors LGBTIQA programming on campus, meets the need for LGBTIQA safe zones on campus, and incorporates LGBTIQA issues into curricular and co-curricular learning.
The Women’s Resource Center provides an array of women-centered programming and information about University and community services of interest to women. The center’s lounge houses a library of books and magazines relevant to women’s issues.