News
3rd Annual UMD ATLAS Conference
Join us for the 3rd Annual UMD ATLAS Conference on March 31 & April 1! This year's conference explores the theme of “Identity, Belonging, and Postcolonial Politics: Reflections and Futures.” This conference will include a series of roundtable sessions featuring scholars from UMD and around the DMV.
AAAS Open House & Diaspora Launch
Join us for AAAS Open House on Tuesday, April 7th from 3:30pm - 5:30pm in AAAS Main Office Taliaferro Hall 1119 & 1126. This is a great opportunity to meet faculty, other students, and the department. It is open to all students! There will be Light refreshments prizes and AAAS swag. We hope to see you there!
Book discussion with John Drabinski and Michael Sawyer
The Department of African American and Africana Studies and The John B. Slaughter Endowment Lecture Series with The Center for Literary and Comparative Studies Present Book Discussion with John Drabinski and Michael Sawyer.
Book discussion with John Drabinski and Michael Sawyer - Read more
Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies
In addition to the campus-wide ceremony, BSOS and the other colleges and schools will hold individual ceremonies. The BSOS college ceremonies for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 graduates will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026. There will be two ceremonies for BSOS units; the organization of the ceremonies is displayed below.
The Diamondback: "To UMD community members, 100 years of Black History Month signifies strength, resilience"
Our chair, Dr. Sharon Harley, was recently featured in UMD's student newspaper, The DiamondBack. The article highlights the importance of celebrating Black History month. Please read the entire article at https://dbknews.com/2026/02/26/100-years-black-history-month/.
How Professor John Drabinski Wrote Three Books at Once
How Black vernacular culture, Baldwin and the Atlantic world shape his latest scholarship. Earlier this year, Professor of African American and Africana Studies and English John Drabinski finished a remarkable sprint, submitting three completed book manuscripts in just five days—a rare milestone in academic publishing.
How Professor John Drabinski Wrote Three Books at Once - Read more
Mira Morgan '22
Mira Morgan is a Public Policy and African American Studies double major who graduated in the Spring of 2022.
Mira Morgan '22 - Read more
Cathryn Paul '16
Cathryn Paul is the Public Policy Director at CASA, the largest immigrant rights organization in the region, where she leads immigrant advocacy campaigns on the local, state, and feder
Cathryn Paul '16 - Read more
Chaz R. Ball '08
Chaz came into College Park as a Government and Politics major and took on African American Studies as a second major after a great experience in an AASP class freshman year.
Chaz R. Ball '08 - Read more
Singleton McCallister '75
Although she double majored in African American Studies and Government and Politics during her undergraduate career at the University of Maryland, Singleton McAllister is exc
Singleton McCallister '75 - Read more
Harry Alford III '07
Harry Alford III, the co-founder of a D.C.-based venture development firm, and an adjunct professor at UMD, was named Interim Director of the university’s Southe
Harry Alford III '07 - Read more
Omar Eaton-Martinez '96
Omar recruits and manages 200+ interns and fellows who support a wide range of Museum projects. He promotes intern/fellows programs to colleges and universities and other institutions.
Omar Eaton-Martinez '96 - Read more