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Department of Cultures, Societies, and Global Studies Program

Africana Studies Program

Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary program with a mission of teaching and conducting research in social sciences and humanities fields on the historical and contemporary experiences across the global African Diaspora.

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Learn about students who studied Africana Studies.

Cheyenne Dobine

  • During high school on a college trip, Cheyenne visited Northeastern's campus and was fascinated by the co-op program, making NU her top choice.
  • Cheyenne entered Northeastern as a Communications major.
  • During her freshman year, Cheyenne joined SIS (Sisters in Solidarity). She was able to find a longstanding community through the group throughout her Northeastern experience.
  • Cheyenne completed a co-op during her sophomore year with Creative License, which inspired her to pursue a career in music supervision highlighting Black artists.
  • After co-op, Cheyenne began thinking about minoring something she was interested in, and pairing that with her career path.
  • Cheyenne declared her minor in Africana Studies during her third year after taking "Black Popular Culture," one of her favorite and foundational classes at NU.
  • Cheyenne participated in Greenline Records and WRBB. They were great opportunities for her to get to know classmates within her major at Northeastern...

Abrielle De Veaux

  • Abrielle transferred to Northeastern from American University during her second year, and decided to become a Psychology major and Africana Studies minor.
  • Abrielle was drawn to Northeastern because of the co-op experience as well as hearing positive things about the administration's efforts to prioritize Black voices.
  • As a transfer student, her first priority was to find community on campus where she could be unapologetically Black - which led her to the Black Student Association. She is now VP.
  • For her first co-op, Abrielle worked as a research assistant at the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, doing blood processing, data management and organization, and administering cognitive assessments.
  • Abrielle began working with Professor Nicole Aljoe as a researcher with the Early Caribbean Digital Archive. She continues this research and finds it greatly rewarding.
  • So far, Abrielle's favorite classes include Introduction to African American Studies and Black Popular Culture with Professor Fadeke Castor.
  • In 2021, Abrielle interned at The Opportunity Agenda, a social justice communications lab...

Zainab Adenaike

  • Zainab has always been interested in studying blackness and the African Diaspora—her experience discussing these topics during Advanced Policy Debate team in high school introduced her to the subject.
  • Zainab was drawn to NU's co-op, study abroad programs, and many degree options. She ultimately declared a Business major with an Africana Studies minor as an Honors Student.
  • As a research assistant for Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Zainab worked in collaboration with the ADVANCE office to study how COVID-19 impacted the career path of female professors in STEM.
  • With the International Affairs Program, Zainab conducted research on Middle Eastern women and how their educational opportunities have changed over the years.
  • She is the VP of Sisters in Solidarity, the black women's coalition on campus. She loves having a black women's support system on campus.
  • Zainab is also the VP of Marketing for Women in Finance. She truly appreciates the community of women who share their experiences and accomplishments in business school, as well as the alumni network.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic made Zainab realize how much she values human interaction, but also made her realize there are many ways to connect with people. ..

Africana Studies at Northeastern

Africana Studies is a truly global and interdisciplinary degree. College graduates with Africana Studies degrees have become doctors, lawyers, entertainers, politicians, public health professionals, diplomats, professors, astronauts, journalists, engineers, artists, poets, executives, entrepreneurs, and more! Africana Studies also relates to numerous other fields allowing students to take advantage of the field’s interdisciplinary nature by taking courses in other fields, or by pursuing a double major, combined degree, or a minor in another subject

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