Category Archives: Awards

African American Studies Director Named Inaugural Whipper Distinguished Professor

Lucille Simmons Whipper - Avery Research Center Anthony Greene - CofC Director of African American Studies Program

The College of Charleston has named Anthony Greene, director of the African American Studies Program, as its inaugural Lucille Simmons Whipper Distinguished Professor.

This new professorship was created in an effort to attract and retain top talent from historically underserved groups and to identify faculty members of color at the associate-professor level who are at a point in their career to work toward promotion to full professor so that they may have the time to complete the work necessary for promotion. It is part of an initiative based on one of the cross-cutting themes of the College’s 10-year strategic plan, Tradition & Transformationthe value of diversity, equity and inclusion to make the institution more welcoming to all and more competitive in a changing cultural landscape.

Continue reading at The College Today.

Student Spotlight

The African American Studies Program would like to congradulate and share with you the 2020-2021 recipient of the Bernard E. Powers Writing Award in African American Studies as well as the African American Studies Rising Scholar Award.

Zinnia Harris is a rising junior pursuing a degree in African American Studies. She is passionate about social justice and mutual aid. “I’m not sure what my future holds, but hopefully I can make a difference” – Zinnia Harris.

1967 Legacy Ambassador Award Recipents!

African American Studies is so excited to congradulate TWO of our students this year as recipents of the 1967 Legacy Ambassador Award here at CofC!

Janae Dorsey

Zinnia Harris

The Legacy 1967 Program aims to improve the recruitment, retention, graduation and workplace success of Black students through scholarships, enhanced and extended education support, and professional preparation, as well as research the experiences of the Black trailblazers who contributed to the College.

Who Are Legacy Scholars? This scholarship is for first-year Black students who consider themselves trailblazers.  What does it mean to be a trailblazer?  A trailblazer is a pioneer. It’s someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. It’s an innovator.

Former College of Charleston trailblazers include people who are:

  • community activists.
  • grassroots organizers.
  • preachers and ministers.
  • champions of social justice.
  • teachers.
  • leaders in both their profession and community.

Student Spotlight

The African American Studies Program would like to congradulate and share with you this year’s recipient of the Afrcian American Studies Rising Scholar Award Janae Dorsey.
Janae Dorsey is from a small town called Kingstree, South Carolina. She is a rising junior that is double majoring in Computer Science and African American Studies. She’s an active member of CofC’s Women in STEM, Women in Computing, and Student Ambassadors organizations. She’s passionate about helping people and dreams of combining her passion and her education to help create tech-based solutions that will specifically benefit minorities and underrepresented groups. Janae’s motto in life lies within this belief: Your mentality is one of the most important keys to your success. Two fun facts about her are 1) She has a twin brother and 2) She graduated from Kingstree Senior High School as valedictorian of the class of 2019.