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Welcome to the Department of Africana Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver. We are located on the 3^rd floor of the Central Classroom building on the Auraria Campus. Rachel B. Noel founded the Department of Africana Studies in 1971 and chaired the department until 1980. Today, the department continues in Noel’s legacy of multiculturalism, knowledge, and diversity serving º£½ÇÉçÇø students and the broader Denver community.

Dr. Jasmine Harris, Department Chair and Professor

Africana Studies Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

The Department of Africana Studies at º£½ÇÉçÇø advances the interdisciplinary study of the African Diaspora by centering Black histories, cultures, and lived experiences. In alignment with the 2030 Strategic Plan, our mission is to foster equity, student success, and community impact through teaching, research, and public engagement.

We prepare students for meaningful careers and civic leadership by integrating experiential learning opportunities—including paid internships and research fellowships, study abroad and study away programs, media production through the departmental podcast, and cultural programming like the Black Film Series. Through these initiatives, Africana Studies cultivates graduates who are globally aware, professionally prepared, and deeply connected to their communities.

Vision Statement

The Africana Studies Department envisions º£½ÇÉçÇø as a national model for community-engaged, equity-centered education in the African Diaspora. By 2030, we will:

• Be a community hub where students connect classroom learning with lived experience through innovative programs in public history, cultural production, and global engagement.
• Ensure all students have access to equitable, paid, high-impact experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for the labor market.
• Serve as a cultural and intellectual resource for Denver through initiatives like the Africana Studies Podcast, Black Film Series, and community partnerships.
• Expand student horizons through Study Abroad and Study Away programs that deepen global and national perspectives on Black history, culture, and identity.

Our vision is to graduate students who embody critical thought, professional readiness, and cultural competency, prepared to lead and contribute in diverse local, national, and global contexts.

Program Description

The Department of Africana Studies offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that examines the histories, cultures, and lived experiences of African-descended peoples across Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond, and provides practical skill-building in the scientific study of those experiences. Courses explore topics such as Black political thought, cultural expression, social movements, religion, and global systems of power and resistance. Students gain critical thinking, research, writing, and intercultural communication skills that prepare them for careers in education, public service, media, law, and other fields. Africana Studies fosters a deep understanding of the global African experience while equipping students to engage thoughtfully and effectively in diverse professional and civic contexts.