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Dr. Jasmine Harris has been teaching, writing, and researching the racialization of higher education for more than a decade. Her research has been published in academic journals, including the Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, and U.S. newspapers, including The Washington Post and The New York Times. Dr. Harris regularly speaks to and consults with private companies, non-profits, colleges, and universities about issues of race, inclusion, and equity in organizations. Her book, Black Women, Ivory Tower: Revealing the Lies of White Supremacy in American Education, was published by Broadleaf Books in 2024.
Jacqueline A. McLeod. I am a life-long learner, who earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Black History from Michigan State University, a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law, and Master’s and Undergraduate Degrees from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I have been a tenured professor in the Department of Africana Studies and the Department of History at Metropolitan State University of Denver for almost 20 years. I savor every opportunity to teach and learn about Africa and the African Diaspora and have had the good fortune through Travel Grants and Fulbright Fellowships to do so in the distant shores of Ethiopia, Senegal, Albania, Morocco, Hungary, Italy, India, and Mexico.
My research interests span the African Diaspora and include work on the immigrant experiences of Anglo-Caribbean women to the U.S., ethnic integration through higher education in Ethiopia, and the professionalization of women in the legal profession. My publications include Daughter of the Empire State: The Life of Judge Jane Bolin (the nation’s first African American woman judge), Crossing Boundaries: Comparative History of Black People in Diaspora (co-editor with Darlene Clark Hine), and Senior Editor of Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition (2006 RUSA Outstanding Reference Source, Booklist Editor’s Choice/Best of 2005 Title, and 2005 Choice Outstanding Academic Title).
Professor Ellamaria Foley-Ray holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Johns Hopkins University. She is a cultural anthropologist and ceramicist who is committed to the field of Africana Studies. Her work explores the relationship between Africana women’s literature and art as visual and textual analysis. Nationally, her work has been accepted into two peer-juried exhibitions: “Historical Antecedents” sponsored by The Myers Gallery at Muddy’s Studio in Santa Ana, Calif. and “A Show of Heads” at the Northwest Cultural Council in Palatine, Ill.
Douglas Mpondi, Ph.D. is a Professor and former Chair in the Africana Studies Department. He has been at MSU Denver since Fall 2012 and teaches courses in African politics and history, research methods and contemporary African cultures. Professor Mpondi received his Ph.D. in Cultural Studies and MA in International Affairs at Ohio University and an MA in African languages and literature from the University of Zimbabwe. His main areas of research include identity politics and cultural struggles in Zimbabwe, sports and politics in Africa, citizenship and migration, social media and cultural change in Zimbabwe, globalization and educational reforms, women and development in Africa. His publications focus on the legacy of colonialism in Africa, national culture and educational reforms in Zimbabwe, migration in Southern Africa, globalization and higher education, nation-building and citizenship in Zimbabwe, culture and the environment. He is a member of several academic and professional organizations including National Council for Black Studies, (NCBS) African Studies Association, (ASA) Southern African Historical Society (SAHS) and Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
Dr. Devon Wright
Dr. Devon Wright is currently an Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Originally from Scarborough, Toronto, Canada, he spent most of his life in Miami, Florida where he graduated from high school and eventually earned a Ph.D. in comparative sociology from Florida International University. He got his start in Florida as an educator in the public school system and as an instructor at various colleges and universities. In the summer of 2018, he relocated to Denver, Colorado where he teaches various African American studies courses including Social Movements and the Black Experience, Hip-Hop Culture and Rap Music and a recently created course, Black Lives Matter and the Origins of Modern Black Protest in America. His research primarily focuses on anti-black protest propaganda in conservative right-wing media and white supremacist ideology
STAFF
I am a Colorado native and proud MSU Denver alumnus. I graduated from MSU Denver in 2011 with a B.S. through the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) in IT Programming, Web & Database Development, and recently earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the University of Denver.
I have been part of the MSU Denver community for over 20 years. I first dipped my toe into MSU in 1991 and have since been involved as a student, mentor, web developer, and now Program Assistant for the Department of Africana Studies. My time here has given me a unique, full-circle perspective on how this institution supports students at every stage.
Throughout my time at MSU Denver, I have seen many positive changes in how we support students, staff, and faculty. My philosophy is simple: everything we do should ultimately support student success. Once a student is admitted, it is our responsibility to help them reach the finish line, whatever it takes.
At the same time, student success does not happen without staff support. A strong, supported, and valued staff is essential to building the kind of environment where students can thrive. When staff have the tools, respect, and support they need to do their jobs well, that success carries over to our faculty and, ultimately, to our students.
The Department of Africana Studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the African-American experiences, Africa, and the African Diaspora-providing studies with a broad understanding political, social, and historical linkages between African-descended people across the globe. In doing so, our department faculty and staff educate, mentor, and transform students into socially responsible researchers and scholars, community leaders, and creatives with a commitment to equity and justice.