News

New leader has a dream

African-American Studies' new chair looks to expand courses, faculty

By Svetlana Guineva
quineva@mscd.edu

Ronald Stephens has a dream.
He wants to make Metro's African-American Studies department one of the best undergraduate programs in the country.

On Aug. 15, Stephens took over as chair of Metro's African American Studies department, a position previously held for 10 years by professor C. J. White until he retired this year.

"Here at Metro, the department has a lot of potential," Stephens said, "but the curriculum still needs some improvement. A lot of the courses treat issues from African-American history, politics and art," he said, "but there is no course on religion or social systems and the African-American family as a social unit," Stephens said.

"There is no course that covers food or popular culture," he said. "Also, there is no course to deal with the migration period and with the African-American social and political thought."

Stephens responded to the job announcement because he thought it was a good opportunity to continue the department's development.

"I'm impressed," Stephens said, "The people here are very friendly and more open-minded than other places I've been to."

African-American history and culture in the twentieth century has been the primary focus of Stephens' research and study. He received his doctorate from Temple University in Philadelphia and later taught at Wayne State University in Detroit, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

Stephens also said there are no courses offered through the department that focus on black people of the Caribbean region, their music, literature and family life.

Stephens said he would like to see a course in the curriculum that pays attention to African-American women and their influence on society, culture and politics.

He also mentioned that there is not equal representation of women in the department. "In addition," he said, "the department has almost no connection with other departments, such as criminal justice or business."

The African-American studies department offers major and minor degrees, as well as a secondary teacher licensure program.

"There are all kinds of possibilities with a degree in African American studies," Stephens said.

Stephens pointed out the flexibility of such a degree because it can be used as a valuable resource for understanding black culture and way-of-life in almost any profession.

Stephens said, for example, there is a need for journalists who understand the black experience in Africa and the African Diaspora - the United States, Latin America, or Central Africa.

As a visiting professor at Wayne State University he taught courses to several students who double majored in journalism and AAS, he said.

"In the legal profession, we need lawyers who are capable of properly interpreting the law as it pertains to the plight of black people in the U.S. and Africa," Stephens said.

Throughout his teaching career, he said he has met students preparing to be pharmacists, medical doctors and librarians who simultaneously majored or minored in AAS.

"The possibilities are significant and great and we haven't explored them all yet," he said.

"Undoubtedly, knowing African-American history and culture would benefit everyone."

"Because, I can guarantee you, they will have contact with a person of African descent in their personal and professional life," Stephens said. "If you don't have any clue and refuse to have it, it'll come back to haunt you later."

Danielle Kelly, the president of Metro's Black Student Alliance, said she met with Stephens and her first impressions were positive.

"He has the historic perspective, but he can also relate to the African-American experience," she said. "He wants success and he's going to be great for that department."

Kelly said the BSA wants to raise awareness of African-American history and what's going on in the black community today.

"I feel it is very important to get people acquainted with African-American history, like where are we coming from, so they can appreciate the culture better," she said.

But there is a lack of faculty. In Metro's catalog many relevant courses seem to be listed; African-American History I and II, The Black Family and Contemporary Issues in African-American Studies. In reality, almost none of them is taught, except the major or minor requirement classes composing the department's curriculum.

Stephens agreed with Kelly. "One way to solve the problem," he said, "is to hire more faculty with enough expertise to maintain the quality of education Metro offers. There are different ways to attract more faculty, but the administration's cooperation is definitely needed in the process," he said.

Stephens said one way to solve the problem is to hire more faculty who have enough expertise to offer the quality of education Metro maintains.

Another very important focus of the department is establishing stronger ties with the community, Stephens said.

According to Stephens, African-American Studies is working closely with the Black African West Museum. Two AAS students are conducting research this semester on behalf of the museum. There are students working with the African-American Leadership Institute in Denver, Stephens said. He added that the department is also working with the Colorado Historical Society's African-American Advisory Group.

"We think it is imperative to work closely with community organizations designed to solve some of the pressing problems involving issues impacting African-Americans," he said.

Stephens said the department is working on a strategic plan for the next five to 10 years to evaluate their progress and how best to filter information to AAS majors, minors and students taking courses to fulfill their multicultural experiences courses.

"Our task here is to educate every student, and at the same, time reach out to the African-American community," Stephens said. "But as teachers, our job is to ensure quality of education for any student."