The internship program of the Department of Africana Studies is one of the new initiatives the department has undertaken to integrate important technologies into the curriculum of Africana Studies. Our goal is to effectively position our students in the workforce of the new century that will increasingly demand of them to utilize the expanding internet-based resources. Thus, it is imperative that Africana students acquire all the relevant skills and information regarding constructing databases, navigating and searching the web, building web-sites, and envisioning new careers in providing information digitally.

Africana interns will be working on an aspect of a project whose prototype you may review at the following web-site, West Africa Review. Contact Professor Nzegwu for all the information.


The Africana advantage

Mentorship program: our individualized mentorship program allows our students to conduct independent research with faculty. Some of this research is funded through the McNair Scholars Program and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry program (CSTEP). Our high-achieving students have presented their research at conferences sponsored by the New York State African Studies Association, the International Society of African Philosophy and Studies, and the American Sociological Association. Under the supervision of our faculty, they have published their work in academic journals.

Summer research internships: In conjunction with the McNair Scholars Program, we mentor eligible students interested in pursuing a PhD program. Created by the U.S. Congress in 1986, the McNair Scholars Program works to increase the numbers of low-income, first-generation and/or under-represented minority students attending graduate school and receiving a doctorate. Qualifying students receive stipends for summer research and semester funding. This allows them to work with a faculty to gain critical research, academic and professional experiences towards admission to doctoral programs.

Work-related internship: Africana Studies students may explore interests and career opportunities through a variety of internships on campus, in the community, and around the country. Internship projects operate under the guidance of a faculty member or an associated faculty member of the department. Students arrange the internship with an institution (government agency, social services agency, school, local community agency, research institute, etc.) or program and work under the supervision of a member of the agency. They work with the agency supervisor to create a statement of expectations (including a number of contact hours) that serves as part of the course record. The student and faculty member agree on a project (written paper, journal bibliography) that focuses attention on the interdisciplinary (social sciences or humanities) dimension of the internship and serves as a basis for assessment.

:: Staff ::

Chair of Africana Studies:
Nkiru Nzegwu
panap@binghamton.edu

Undergraduate Director:
Michael West
mwest@binghamton.edu

Department Secretary:
Barbara Kumiega
bkumiega@binghamton.edu

Webmaster:
Nkiru Nzegwu
panap@binghamton.edu

Africana's address
Binghamton University
Department of Africana Studies
POB 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Telephone & fax
Phone: (607) 777-2635
Fax: (607) 777-6547

Inquires about undergraduate studies should be directed to Professor Michael West. Inquires about the department should be directed to Professor Nkiru Nzegwu. All other inquires should be directed to the Department Secretary, Barbara Kumiega.

Departmental internships: There are two types of internships for qualifying students with web-development skills: electronic publishing journal internships and database development internships. EJournal internship trains students in the art and science of independent academic publication. It offers them the opportunity to understand the modalities of publishing in the field of electronic scholarly publication. The database development internship trains students to develop and to work with database driven websites.

Journal internship
Project Director: Professor Nkiru Nzegwu
Location: Department of Africana Studies
Project: (ejournals) including West Africa Review, Ijele: Art eJournal of the African World, and International Journal for African Philosophy and Studies.

The ejournal internship program is established through the Department of Africana Studies. It is one of the new initiatives undertaken by the department to 1) integrate new technologies into the curriculum of Africana Studies; and 2) more effectively position students in the expanding workforce created by the Internet.

Learning Objectives: The goal is to develop students' technical skills in the art and science of independent academic publication. The internship trains interested individuals in the craft of electronic publishing, and offers them an opportunity to participate in the exciting new world of electronic scholarly communication.

Requirements: The position(s) of editorial apprentice requires a basic facility with the tools of electronic publication including email, word processors, HTML, stylesheets, perl and/or emacs. A good academic record and understanding of the basic philosophy of journal publications are also required.

Duties: This is not an editorial assistant position. Duties include handling submissions, obtaining peer review, copy editing, finalizing the conversion of documents, managing the journal numbers, soliciting papers, etc. The successful apprentice will perform all the duties required of editors of electronic journals.

Supervision: All duties are performed under the supervision and guidance of the project director and the journal managing editor, Professor Nkiru Nzegwu. She will direct intern(s), evaluate their performance and is responsible for teaching them the critical skill they need to know. Interns will also evaluate their own performance and keep a daily journal of their activities, and of what they learned. At the end of the program, interns will write a short position paper on what they gained from their experience.

Duration: The term of apprentice appointments run for 2 consecutive years. Exceptions can, however, be made. Contact Professor Nzegwu for all the information, panap@binghamton.edu.

Database internship
Project Director: Professor Nkiru Nzegwu
Location: Department of Africana Studies
Job Description: Database development

The interns responsibilities include: an extensive and thorough search of the internet identifying three categories of Internet sites on Africa: a) major web-sites, b) medium range sites, and c) those which contain significant material on Africa. The intern will compile a URL list of all these sites, review the contents, and catalog the sites alphabetically, along geographical lines, and by subject. The database software will be Microsoft Access.

Learning Objectives: In building this database the intern will learn the principle for conducting targeted searches on the internet, develop a comprehensive view of the Africa-related materials on the net, acquire the techniques for quick evaluation of sites, learn cataloguing skills, become proficient in using Microsoft Access, MSQL, and learn critical HTML tags and codes.

Supervision: Interns will be supervised by the project director. She will direct and evaluate their performance, and work with them to develop the required critical skills. Interns will also evaluate their own performance and keep a daily journal of their activities, and of what they learned. At the end of the program, interns will write a short position paper on what they gained from their experience.

Duration: The term of apprentice is a semester and can be renewed. Contact Professor Nzegwu for all the information, panap@binghamton.edu.