On December 4, 2013, the Center for African American Studies had the

honor of hosting four faculty members who inspired us with their work at

the 2nd

Annual CAAS “An Evening with Authors.” Students, faculty, staff,

and community members were all in attendance. Everyone was thrilled to

hear the journeys of how these marvelous authors began their journey as a

writer, as well as hear an excerpt from their latest book. Attendees also had

the chance to ‘mix and mingle’ with each other at the end of the

presentations.

Don’t forget to Save the Date for the

2nd Annual CAAS Conference on February 21-22, 2014!

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A BIANNUAL JOURNAL

OF THE CENTER FOR

AFRICAN AMERICAN

STUDEIS

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A BIANNUAL JOURNAL

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Director

Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW

Program Assistant

Hadia A. Miller, BA

Coordinator of Special Programs

Chaunte White, M.Ed.

Student Associate

Dorothea Ivey (MSW & MPA

Candidate)

Student Assistants

Esther Kentish (Political Science)

Daniel Leichman (Advertising) Yvonne Williams (Criminology

Criminal Justice)

Christopher Woolen (Exercise Science)

Graduate Interns

Katasha Copridge (Social Work)

Courtney Miller (Social Work)

CAAS Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Pamela Hill, Ph.D.

Ray Jordan II, ABD

AFFILIATE FACULTY 2013-2014

Faculty Fellows

Dr. Ifeoma Amah Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Dr. Krystal Beamon, Dept. of

Sociology & Anthropology

FACULTY ASSOCIATES 2013-2014

Dr. Ben Agger, Dept. of

Sociology & Anthropology and

Director of Center for Theory

Dr. Myrtle P. Bell, Dept. of

Management

Dr. Elten Briggs, Dept. of

Marketing

Dr. Michan A. Connor, Dept. of

Interdisciplinary Studies/ Urban

Affairs

Dr. Marvin Dulaney, Dept. of

History, Chair

Dr. Cedrick May, Dept. of

English

Dr. Anne Bain- Nordberg, School of Social Work

Dr. Jason Shelton, Dept. of

Sociology & Anthropology

Dr. David M. Sparks, Dept. of

Curriculum and Instruction and

Uteach

Contents:

Director’s Welcome 3

Faculty Spotlight 4

Student Engagement 6

Community Engagement: Community Service Project 8

Curriculum 9

Calendar of Events 10

Give to CAAS 12

Academic Calendar 13

ear CAAS family, Happy New Year! I hope that 2014 has begun on an encouraging note and that your endeavors are progressive and

successful.

Established one academic year ago, August 2012, this newsletter provides updates on our progress, introduces a team of

fabulous affiliate faculty, and profiles our outstanding students. At its core, the CAAS aims to facilitate the discourse on

race and contextualize it in the historical, cultural, and community influences that shape the diverse experiences of Blacks

in America:

Students are minoring in African American Studies (AAST);

We have developed six classes through our unit and coordinated 28 cross-listed courses;

Faculty Fellows are conducting community-based research with support from the center;

Faculty Associates are participating in CAAS civic engagement activities;

The CAAS Emerging Scholars Program, a student development initiative for first year students, is operating for the

2nd year;

The CAAS Emerging Leaders Initiative, a program for upperclassmen, is in its inaugural year;

AND we have constant contact with community members and organizations on joint ventures.

Your commitment, both in- kind and financially, make it possible for us to continue to build the infrastructure that will

enlighten, inspire and empower student, faculty and staff, and community stakeholders to drive social change within the

Black community specifically and the broader society generally.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

All the best,

Schnavia

Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW Director

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Congratulations to Professor Sedrick Huckaby on his ‘Big Mama’ and family

exhibition at Valley House Gallery in Dallas, TX. The Valley House exhibition,

“Everyday Glory,” includes more than 250 works completed there in the past

year, an extraordinary output in anyone’s book.

Huckaby is a Painting Assistant Professor at UT Arlington in the school of Art

and Art History.

*You can view more of his work at uta.edu/art and valleyhouse.com.

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Congratulations to Dr. Elten Briggs, UT Arlington associate professor of

marketing and CAAS Faculty Affiliate, on his new publication; “Shared

ethnicity effects on service encounters: A study across three U.S.

subcultures.” It was published in the Journal of Business Research.

This research investigates how contact employee–customer shared ethnicity

affects face-to-face service encounters. Drawing on insights from cultural

orientation literature, social identity theory, and resource exchange theory, the

authors: Briggs and Montoya, propose that encounters involving employees

and customers from traditionally collectivist subcultures who are minorities in

their country of residence will be especially susceptible to the effects of shared

ethnicity.

\

All the best,

Schnavia

Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW Director

Congratulations to Dr. Krystal Beamon, Assistant Professor of Sociology and CAAS Faculty Fellow, on

her new book., “The Enduring Color Line in U.S. Athletics”

In “The Enduring Color Line in U.S. Athletics,” Beamon assembles findings from previous

research, data from the NCAA and interviews with professional athletes to explore sports as a

social construction. The book is part of the academic series, Framing the 21st Century Social

Issues and is published by Routledge. Chris M. Messer, Assistant Professor of Sociology at

Colorado State University-Pueblo, is the co-author.

Q & A with Dr. Beamon What motivated you to pursue the current focus of your career?

Sport is such an influential institution in American society. It mirrors the human experience in so many

ways. My brothers and I were elite athletes and sports were a key component of my upbringing that

shaped my childhood and carved out my future. The systematic study of race and sport gives us insight

about a prominent aspect of the African-American experience. As a professor, I have the opportunity to

study topics that interest me, as well as teach students. Research and teaching are my passion and in

this career I am blessed to do both.

What has been one of the greatest rewards in your role thus far?

My greatest reward thus far is seeing my students succeed. As an African-American woman from a

working class background, a first generation college graduate, so many of the students here see

themselves in me. I've had the privilege to be a mentor to students and push them to enter graduate

school.

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“The CAAS program actually had the biggest

impact on me because it pushed me to do many

things as far as interacting and meeting new

people. It also made me get very involved by giving

back to the community.”

-Emerging Scholar 2012-13

On November 22, 2013, CAAS

Emerging Scholars, Emerging

Leaders, and African-American

Studies minor students joined forces

to kick-off our High School Outreach

Service Project at Polytechnic High

School in Fort Worth, Texas.

The students shared testimonials of

their academic experiences,

answered questions about CAAS

programs, and gave feedback about

student life on the UTA campus

during Polytechnic's College and

Career Fair.

The mission of the CAAS Emerging

Scholars Program is to develop and

provide educational, cultural, and

social models of support that

strengthen the foundation of

exploration and learning for first

year male and female students

interested in African American

studies and/or volunteering in the

Black community.

Activities included: monthly group

workshops and individual meetings,

reflection assignments, peer mentor

experience, end of year projects and

conference presentations.

My CAAS Experience

At its core, the CAAS aims to facilitate the discourse on

race and contextualize it in the historical, cultural, and

community influences that shape the diverse experiences

of Blacks in America. Through teaching, civic

engagement, and community-based research, the CAAS

will serve as a vital intellectual and social resource for the

community, on and off campus.

What does CAAS being on campus mean to you?

Anderson: "I've been involved with CAAS at UTA,

actually a little bit prior to its birth. I created my

major to be tailored around African American

Studies before CAAS was brought to campus. So I

was really excited when CAAS was brought to

campus. Because that meant I could declare my

minor officially. I've been involved in different

classes, different lectures, and various marches on

campus as well (organized protests). It is very

important. So I think that, I guess with the way that

I've been involved, it has allowed me to develop

significantly."

Slater: "Having CAAS here on this campus, well

first of all, is a benefit to the campus and the

community as well. It raises the consciousness of,

not only the African Americans at the university and

in the city, since CAAS does have outreach in the

community. It also raises the awareness of other

individuals of other races of the African American

experience; How African Americans got here, the

things we endured and how we got up to this point

today with the current president being African

American."

I am sure that CAAS will continue to grow and

make an even bigger impact at UT Arlington, in

the surrounding community and likely across the

nation. CAAS’ mission to ‘enlighten, inspire, and

empower’ will forever remain with me as I venture

toward the next steps in my career.

CONGRATULATIONS

ARTHUR!

BACHELORS DEGREE IN HISTORY

MINOR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

GRADUATED DECEMBER 2013

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By: Lindsey Anderson & Arthur Slater CAAS Minor Students, Fall 2013

(picture above) Emerging Scholars and Emerging Leaders mentor/mentee mix and mingle; (picture to the right) Arthur Slater assisting with the CAAS Community Service Project.

2014 CAAS Emerging Scholars

at CAAS Evening of Authors

Emerging Scholars and Leaders

MORE PICTURES AVAILABLE ON

FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/UTACAAS

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CAAS at Ranger Experience

https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs185/1114651213575/img/38.jpg

CAAS mk

Minor Requirements

The African American Studies Minor is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program that prepares students for critical thinking and discourse on race and contextual factors, social consciousness and awareness, and civic engagement. For more information, refer to our complete course on the CAAS website.

Required:

Courses include: 18 credit hours with 9 in AAST

AAST 2300 - Intro to African American Studies

HIST 3365 - African American History or SOCI 3338 - Contemporary Black Experience

AAST Service Learning Capstone

How to Add the African American Studies Minor

If you are interested in obtaining a minor in African American Studies:

1) Complete the Minor Approval Form and have it signed by your major department advisor.

2) Once the Minor Approval Form is completed, schedule an appointment with the CAAS advisor and bring the following:

completed degree plan (signed by your major department advisor)

minor approval form (signed by your major department advisor) and

Maverick Academic Progress (MAP)

To make an advising appointment, please call 817-272-9642 or email millerha@uta.edu.

AAST 2300-001 Intro to African American Studies AAST 4399-001 Capstone African American Studies AAST 3338-001 Contemporary Black Experience AAST 4350-001 Special Topics in African American Studies AAST 4391-001 Conference Course AAST 6391-001 Conference Course AAST 2337-001 Economics of Social Issues AAST 3366-001 African- American History, 1865-Present AAST 4318-001 Politics of African Americans AAST 4375-001 African History AAST 3337-001 Racial & Ethnic Groups in U.S.

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Past Events - Fall 2013

Activities Day Fair

Texas Rangers Experience - September 23

Emerging Scholars and Emerging Leaders Mix & Mingle – October 2

Power of Philanthropy and Entertainment – October 4

Civic Engagement in the Black Community – October 8 & 10

Homecoming Parade – November 15

An Evening with Authors – December 4

*Visit uta.edu/caas to view photos of CAAS events

Coming Up – Spring 2014

CAAS Power Hour Lectures: (University Center)

February 5

March 5

April 2

SAVE THE DATE:

2nd Annual CAAS Conference: Critical Issues in the Black Community

February 21-22

Ongoing

Visual Resource Commons and Gallery The Jonathan A. Campbell and

Tanya G. Dowdey African Art Collection is a multi-dimensional collection of

11th-20th century art and artifacts. Free. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays,

Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Mindful Moments Learn techniques to help deal effectively with stress.

Free. 12:15-12:45 p.m. Fridays, Room 310, Ransom Hall. Health Services.

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Established August 2012, the mission of the Center for African American

Studies (CAAS) at the University of Texas at Arlington is to cultivate an

exceptional transdisciplinary experience through teaching, civic

engagement, and community-based research focused on the diverse

contextual conditions of African Americans.

Our purpose is to foster student, faculty, and community capacity to

create progressive solutions to social problems.

Endowed funding is being sought to

support:

Lectures, events, and conferences

Student seminars

Graduate fellowships

Undergraduate assistantships

Faculty and student research

For individual giving, please contact:

Michelle Gilchrist at gilchrist@uta.edu

Myke Holt at mholt@uta.edu

For foundation giving, please contact:

Shawn Farrell, Director of Foundation Relations

at shawnf@uta.edu

For more information about the needs of CAAS, please contact:

Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, CAAS Director, at shatcher@uta.edu

To give a gift, go to www.uta.edu/caas/support.html

Jan 12 · Registration Ends for Spring Term - Regular Session Jan 13 · First day of classes Jan 13 · Late registration Jan 14 · Late registration Jan 15 · Late registration Jan 16 · Late registration Jan 17 · Late registration Jan 20 · Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday Jan 29 · Census date Mar 10 · Spring Vacation Mar 11 · Spring Vacation Mar 12 · Spring Vacation Mar 13 · Spring Vacation Mar 14 · Spring Vacation Mar 28 · Last day to drop classes; submit requests to advisor prior to 4:00 pm Apr 07 · Registration begins for Summer and Fall 2014 Terms May 02 Last day of classes May 03 Final exams May 05 Final exams May 06 Final exams May 07 Final exams May 08 Final exams May 09 Final exams May 09 Commencement ceremonies May 10 Commencement ceremonies May 11 Commencement ceremonies

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How do you contact The Center for African American Studies?

CAAS is located on the UT Arlington campus in the

Swift Center, Suite 129.

Visitor parking is on the corner of UTA Blvd and Summit.

1022 UTA BLVD., SUITE 129

BOX #19024

ARLINGTON, TX 76019

Phone: 817.272.9642

Fax: 817.272.9643

Email: caas@uta.edu

Facebook.com/groups/UTACAAS

Twitter: UTArlingtonCAAS

Email to join our listserv at:

CAAS@LISTSERV.UTA.EDU

www.uta.edu/caas

CAAS WEBSITE: