by: Jennifer Jacobs
Kennesaw State University Library System highlighted Black women researchers among KSU faculty, staff, and students. This included two days of presentations for each group with a focus on recent research. Collaborating with KSU students, faculty, and staff, the KSU Library System hoped to shine a light on the variety of research done at KSU. The panelists included undergraduate student Yazmeen Mayes, staff member and PhD student Semline Delva, and faculty members Dr. Afekwo Ukuku, Dr. Rasheda Likely, and Dr. LaNita Wright.
Student Yazmeen Mayes presented on a project she recently did for a class at KSU. It involved composing music for the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman and discovering racism within the story and within classical music. She also discussed her personal experience with racism when it comes to schoolwork and class selection. This led to a discussion on student fatigue and imposter syndrome within undergraduate work, specifically amongst music students.
KSU Library System hosted four KSU faculty and staff members to share their current research. Dr. Ukuku discussed her work with Black and POC postpartum aftercare and the disparity of care given to these mothers. She went into detail about her work with hospitals and patients receiving postpartum care and noted the effect this research had on her as a mother. Dr. Likely discussed her research using DIY YouTube hair tutorials to introduce Black girls to science. She strives to reframe and broaden the image that many people have of a scientist. She hosts a science camp using the pedagogy that she created with the intent to introduce Black girls to science and change the way they see science. Semline Delva introduced attendees to her Haitian background and the current research she’s doing on Haiti peacekeeping and how women are leading the way. Semline is a current KSU employee and PhD student and this research is directly related to her thesis. Finally, Dr. Wright discussed several research studies, including one that looks at how the Black community perceives the COVID-19 vaccine and what is being done to disseminate information to the community.
To learn about these presentations and more, please view the panel recordings, available here: Black History Month panels.
