OAAA main house
OAAA E-Weekly March 18, 2024
Mark You Calendar
Spring 2024 Academic Calendar
Tuesday, April 30
Courses end
Thursday, May 2 – Friday, May 10
Examinations (Go to Exam Schedule)
Sunday, May 5 & Wednesday, May 8
Reading Days (No Classes)
Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19
Finals Weekend (https://majorevents.virginia.edu/finals)
Student Spotlight: Randa Ampah
Randa Ampah is a third year from Woodbridge, VA in the College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a Statistics major with a concentration in Biostatistics and a minor in Data Science. Currently serving on the Executive Board of Afro-Hoos as Treasurer and a member of the Data Science and Analytics club, Randa has become an invested participant in the University community. Randa has found time to also work in Newcomb Hall as an Audio Visual Assistant and she is about to start a position as a Research Assistant in the Environmental Sciences department. After graduating, Randa plans to complete her Masters in Data Science and hopes to one day start a career in the data science field that has a positive impact on society.
OAAA Alumni Engagement: Justin Lagbo
Name: Justin Lagbo
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Year of Graduation: 2018
Major: Cognitive Science and Psychology Double Major | Medical School - Eastern Virginia Medical School, M.D.
Occupation: Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX
Wisdom/Advice: My advice would be to get to know the OAAA deans early and start networking with faculty inside and outside of your major because you never know when the next big opportunity will come your way - whether it is a summer internship, job, or if you need them to write a letter of recommendation for graduate/professional school. The deans and faculty are readily available to you and want to see you succeed.
Favorite OAAA Memory: My favorite memory of OAAA was definitely being part of the Peer Advisor Program. It really taught me the skills to become a better leader and help incoming first-year and transfer students thrive during their time at UVA both academically and professionally. It was also a great community to get to meet other black students and we still carry friendships to this day.
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Year of Graduation: 2018
Major: Cognitive Science and Psychology Double Major | Medical School - Eastern Virginia Medical School, M.D.
Occupation: Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX
Wisdom/Advice: My advice would be to get to know the OAAA deans early and start networking with faculty inside and outside of your major because you never know when the next big opportunity will come your way - whether it is a summer internship, job, or if you need them to write a letter of recommendation for graduate/professional school. The deans and faculty are readily available to you and want to see you succeed.
Favorite OAAA Memory: My favorite memory of OAAA was definitely being part of the Peer Advisor Program. It really taught me the skills to become a better leader and help incoming first-year and transfer students thrive during their time at UVA both academically and professionally. It was also a great community to get to meet other black students and we still carry friendships to this day.
Schedule a Meeting with Your Dean
Selecting a Dean for a One-on-One Appointment
Many of you are aware of our spaces throughout Dawson’s Row, some have figured out ways to engage with our programming, and most of you have broken bread in Dawson’s Row with us and one another. In addition to the cultural programs we host, however, each Dean is available to meet with students to provide one-on-one support (i.e., academic, social, and emotional) to all our students.
Quote of the Week
“And for those of us from communities with historic collective trauma, we must understand that each of us is already science fiction walking around on two legs. Our ancestors dreamed us up and then bent reality to create us.” ― Walidah Imarisha, Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice
Upcoming UVA Events, Learning & Services
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Monday, March 18 – 5:30 pm-6:45 pm – Online (in-person seating sold out)
Did Hamilton and Jefferson believe that democracy and capitalism could coexist in America? Two of the world’s leading historians on Hamilton and Jefferson—Joanne Freeman (Yale University) and Frank Cogliano (University of Edinburgh)—examine the founders’ views of the relationship between political freedom and the means of economic well-being. Hamilton's and Jefferson’s complex views on democracy and capitalism and their different visions for these institutions continue to catalyze American and global society to this day. For More Information. Contact Name: Brielle Entzminger
Hoos Grateful
Register Here by Wednesday, March 20
Event Held: Wednesday, April 24 – 10:00 am–2:30 pm – McIntire Amphitheatre
Rain date: Thursday, April 25th, same time and location
Join us to learn about the impact of philanthropy on Grounds and to thank the donors who help make your UVA experience possible! Hoos Grateful is a day of gratitude that will take place at the McIntire Amphitheatre on Wednesday, April 24th in partnership with schools and units across Grounds. Handwrite notes and/or film ThankView videos expressing your appreciation for their continued support. There will be treats and swag for attendees!
Economics Undergraduate Career Forum
Thursday, March 21 & Friday, March 22
Join the Economics Department in welcoming alumni and other guests for keynote talks, office hours, and career exploration panels with alumni in career fields representing the diversity of jobs UVA students pursue. Alumni will provide tips and advice about your internship and job search. You can learn more about the event here (see registration and locations). NOTE: Priority registration is given to Economics majors and Arts and Sciences students until Wednesday, March 20. Students from all Schools are welcome to show up on the day of without having registered.
2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium
Thursday, April 18 – 9:00 am-5:00 pm – Newcomb Hall
(Deadline to sign up: March 12th) Undergraduate students from all disciplines at UVA are invited to present their research and creative inquiry at this annual event. There is also a flyer you can print and post on your door to get your friends involved. https://undergraduateresearch.virginia.edu/undergraduate-research-symposium
Fellowships & Undergraduate Research Series
Every Monday at 4:00 pm – Rotunda Multipurpose Room
The full schedule is attached and also available here. Getting Started in Undergraduate Research sessions and Exploring Opportunities at UVA & Beyond workshops occur about once a month. Many sessions this spring are dedicated to those fellowships that have a deadline in the fall. It is important that students start considering those opportunities early so that they can take advantage of our spring and summer advising to be well prepared.
Black Graduate Students Support Group
Every Friday – 3:00 pm-4:30 pm – Student Health & Wellness
This is a weekly support space centered on the Black, African American, and African graduate and professional student experience. This support space provides a safe and affirming opportunity to make connections, give and receive support, and engage in open dialogue about lived experiences as a graduate or professional student at a PWI. To join email Group leader: Lavender Williams, LPC
Male Undergrads: Compensated Research Project
Were your elementary or middle school experiences dehumanizing, pleasant, supportive, dismissive, caring, humanizing, or degrading? Please consider joining a team of researchers who are centering how Black Male undergraduates describe their elementary and middle school student-teacher relationships to help train pre-service teachers. If you are selected to participate you will receive a $25 Target gift card for your time and completion of the interviews. For more information. Contact Name: Aaron Blatt
Nature Walk: Embodied Practice for Eco-Anxiety
Mindfulness facilitator Geoff Cox will lead a practice designed to navigate climate anxiety providing a rich, sensory and contemplative experience that fosters connection with nature and self. This outdoor event is hosted by the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) and will take place at the Dell located across from Newcomb Hall. It is being held in connection with "From Fear to Action: Thriving in a Changing Climate" talk by Britt Wray and a resources fair held on the same day and sponsored by CSC and the Environmental Institute. Feel free to participate in any of these events. For More Information. Contact Name: Mai Hukuoka
Opportunities with Deadlines
Summer Research Opportunities
Various Locations
This website lists opportunities from the larger Co-op/Internship and Summer Research Opportunities in the Life Sciences website that meet any of the following criteria - 1. biomedical research, 2. located in a medical or clinical setting, 3. located in a medical school or health science center, 4. has "biomedical" as a descriptor, 5. may be of particular interest to pre-med students.
From Fear to Action: Thriving in a Changing Climate Resources Fair
Hosted by UVA’s Environmental Institute and Contemplative Sciences Center, Britt Wray, an expert on the psychological impacts of the climate crisis especially among young people, shares research and experiences from her journey from fear to hope and finally to action. Wray will offer ways to thrive, feel less alone and restore ourselves for the long haul. A student resources fair and nature walk will follow the talk. For More Information Contact Name: Mai Hukuoka
UVA School of Medicine club GAS (Guides to Application Success)
Our goal is to provide individualized medical school application mentorship between UVA SOM students and UVA undergraduates throughout the medical school application process. The mentoring relationship will likely focus on application preparation, including extracurriculars, the primary application, school lists, secondaries, letters of recommendation, CASPer/SJT, and interview preparation/mock interviews. In March, we will match each applicant with a mentor. The process of selection of undergraduates will likely be on a first-come first-served basis for those who are applying in the upcoming 2024-2025 cycle. Please share this interest form with interested and eligible undergraduates to fill out. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (JSAAHC) Marketing Internship
Hours must fall within Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm. Saturday hours from 10am - 1pm are also available.
JSAAHC offers internships to promising high school rising juniors, seniors, undergraduates, graduate students or career changers who are considering employment in the arts, history, education, nonprofit management and promotions and marketing. Applications for a marketing intern are now being accepted. Positions are unpaid. A letter of recommendation based on performance will be issued at completion of the summer. Qualified interns must: Have a thirst for history and a desire to impart your knowledge to others, be committed to ensuring that a more inclusive narrative of Charlottesville’s history is told, be a self-starter who enjoys problem solving Duties will include, but are not be limited to: developing tools and methods for collecting data such as surveys, opinion polls or questionnaires, collecting and analyzing data to identify consumer trends, researching consumer opinions and marketing strategies and proposing adjustments to current strategies accordingly, creating graphic representations of data and translating complex research into easily readable content for stakeholders and other departments, preparing marketing proposals and presentations based on company needs, measuring consumer satisfaction with products or services, monitoring and managing the company’s social media platforms, adjusting outreach tactics as needed
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (JSAAHC) Development and Events Intern
Part Time: 10-15 hour per week
Application Deadline: ongoing / Start Date: Immediately
Apply Here and Job Description
The Fundraising and Events Intern works closely with the Director of Development. The Development department exists to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individuals & companies interested in supporting the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly organized and motivated individual to develop skills in nonprofit development work. In order to be considered, please submit the following items, a resume, cover letter explaining why you are interested in the internship with Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, what skills you would bring, and why you would be a great member of the team! Part Time: 10-15 hour per week Application Deadline: ongoing Start Date: Immediately
A Moment in Black History
Did you know? On March 3, 1865, Congress established The Freedmen’s Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. The Freedmen's Bureau, was a U.S. government agency of early post American Civil War Reconstruction, assisting freedmen (former slaves) in the South. It operated as a federal agency after the War, from 1865 to 1872, to direct "provisions, clothing, and fuel...for the immediate and temporary shelter and supply of destitute and suffering refugees and freedmen and their wives and children".