The course intro to Africana studies, AFRI 2000, and its instructor Stacey Nickson look to bring an intimate understanding of what it's like to be in Africa and experience different cultures without having to actually pay the tremendous costs of studying abroad.
“I have seen the class, from the first time I taught it, go from about 12 students to last semester I had 25," Nickson said. "As students began to hear about the class, I expect it to grow significantly.”
Before bringing the course to Auburn, Nickson was a high school history teacher with a personal and academic interest in Africa. She has taught this class at Auburn for four semesters and has taught about Africa at various locations for 30 years. Nickson is a Fulbright-Hays specialist scholar and has completed two full tours of Africa.
Nickson has published about South Africa, and her love for these subjects runs deep. She strives to provide interesting material to students in her class and she encourages students to speak their truth in the class.
“I'm a highly engaged professor, so the class will be highly engaged," Nickson. "It’s a class in which we are not just focused on the subject matter but we’re focused on your human interaction and reaction to the subject.”
Africana Studies is open to all students and since the University has put an emphasis on giving students international experience, this class helps students get exposure to the other opportunities that are provided to them. Not only from exposure in the classroom but the study abroad trips help students to expand their minds and grow more than they could have imagined.
"I have gone with the college of business on a trip to South Africa on a spring break trip and most recently, we went to Ghana on our trip," Nickson said.
Auburn students have had the opportunity to take over medical supplies, books and more to help the children and families in Africa during these study abroad trips. Not only are they learning on the trips but they are experiencing another side of the culture outside of class.
“I would say, focus on learning. Enjoy the opportunity to learn as much as you possibly can," Nickson said. "I want students to walk out of this class with a whole new paradigm of what Africa is -- all the many things that Africa represents and how important it is to the history of our lives.”
This course is a class that attempts to spark students interest, and the professor cares deeply about the students' learning experience.
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