OAAA main house
OAAA E-Weekly March 29, 2023
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Spring 2023 Academic Calendar
Tuesday, May 2
Spring Term Courses End
Thursday, May 4 – Friday, May 12
Examinations
Sunday, May 7 & Friday, May 10
Reading Days
Friday, May 19 – Sunday, May 21
Finals Weekend
Look for the OAAA E-Weekly each Monday to share the latest events, opportunities, and information of interest to the Black community and beyond! The Office of African-American Affairs (OAAA) is on FACEBOOK!
LIKE US to keep up-to-date with events and more info about OAAA!
Student Spotlight: Daniel Sawyer
Daniel Sawyer is a 4th-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences (CLAS), majoring in Sociology and minoring in African American & African Studies from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While here at the University, Daniel has been an active member of the Men’s Basketball Club, and a Peer Advisor for the Office of African-American Affairs. Daniel is currently an intern for the Carter G. Woodson Institute of African American & African Studies. Daniel has received and accepted an offer of employment after graduation as a Highmark Health - Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) Associate for the next two years. This 2-year program will allow him to gain experience in the healthcare industry which will provide the necessary leadership skills to potentially manage or lead a department within a healthcare organization/company. Daniel’s ultimate future plan finds him in a Federal Law Enforcement Agency.
Quote of the Week
“Our great nation put a man on the moon, but it can't train its cops to distinguish between an ordinary brown-skinned brother and a criminal.” – Jeffrey Wright
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.
For this transitional year, we have made a few significant changes to how students can make appointments with the Deans. All Deans are available to provide academic advising, support through difficulties, and sometimes, simply be a trusted mentor or guide.
Office of African-American Affairs: Schedule a Meeting with Your Dean
OAAA Mid-Week Raising-the-Bar Sessions
Wednesday, April 19 – 5:00 PM-7:00 PM – Student Health & Wellness 316 & 317
Wednesday, April 19 – 5:00 PM-7:00 PM – Student Health & Wellness 316 & 317
Upcoming UVA Events, Learning & Services
The Maxine Platzer Lynn Women's Center Annual Black Womanhood in College Workshop
Deadline to Sign-Up: Thursday, March 30 - Sign Up For This Event
Applicant Notification: Saturday, April 1
Workshop: Saturday, April 15
The Maxine Platzer Lynn Women's Center is thrilled to resume our annual Black Womanhood in College Workshop for high school girls who identify as Black/African American/African. This is a day-long workshop that covers a variety of aspects that relate to the Black college experience including services available, sorority life, financial aid, extra-curricular activities, sports, retention, and much more. As a mentor, you will be with the same group of girls for most of the day, engaging in discussions with attendees and sharing some of your stories with them. You will also support the flow and execution of the day by helping with set-up, break-down, and traveling to and from rooms/buildings with the groups. This is a great chance to positively impact young Black women and give advice you wish you would have received when you were that age. It is also an awesome opportunity to give back to the Charlottesville community! You will be provided with a t-shirt as well as breakfast, lunch, and snacks on the day of the event. We will try to select a diverse group of participants that represent a range of experiences. You may be required to attend one prep session or info session prior to the event to prepare you for the duties you will have on the day of the event. Thank you so much for your interest and if you have any questions please contact Jaronda Miller-Bryant (434-924-9732) or Nia Baker.
Yuria Celidwen - The Ethics of Belonging of Indigenous Contemplative Traditions
Friday, March 31 -- 3:00 pm-5:00 pm – Holloway Hall, Bavaro Hall (116)
Attend the talk "The Ethics of Belonging of Indigenous Contemplative Traditions" by Yuria Celidwen. Celidwen, an Indigenous Nahua and Maya scholar from Mexico, will speak about how Indigenous traditions hold critical solutions to help meet pressing social and environmental injustices through deep cultural roots of contemplative wisdom. Learn more. Contact Name: Ellen Daniels
Fellowships & Undergraduate Research Series
Mondays – 4:00 pm – Rotunda Multipurpose Room
Our regular series continues. The introductory workshops are the best first touch point with our office. The full schedule is here.
Did you know? On March 21, 1921, Eva Beatrice Dykes was the first African-American woman to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree. Born in Washington, D.C. on August 13, 1893, Dykes attended Howard University, graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in 1914. While attending Howard, Eva was initiated into the Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dykes later attended Radcliffe College, graduating magna cum laude with a second B.A. in 1917 and an M.A. in 1918. At Radcliffe, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1920, Dykes began teaching at Dunbar High School, returning to Howard in 1929 as a member of the English Faculty. In 1944, she joined the English faculty of the Seventh-day Adventist Oakwood College in Huntsville (AL), as the first staff member to hold a doctoral degree. Before retiring in 1968, she was instrumental in helping Oakwood gain accreditation. She died on October 29, 1986.
Opportunities with Deadlines
2023 Global Greeters Application
Applications are open until April 7th! Love meeting new people? Want to learn about new cultures?
Global Greeters work with the International Studies Office to help incoming international students familiarize themselves with American (college) culture and UVA by participating in international orientation week through panels, social events, tours, dining excursions, and ISO open houses.
If this interests you, applications are open until April 7th . Have questions? Find answers here or contact our executive team:Megnot Abebe, [email protected], Ploi Sripoom, [email protected], Tianwei Zhao, [email protected]
Office of Admission – Admission Counselor position
The Office of Admission just posted an Admission Counselor position. Peer Advisors, student leaders, student workers, and others that might be interested in this great opportunity for recent graduates to gain valuable skills while also giving back, please Apply Here! The Office of Undergraduate Admission at the University of Virginia invites applications for the position of Admission Counselor. Under the supervision of an Associate or Assistant Dean, the Admission Counselor performs duties related to the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of undergraduate students to the University. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment, the Office of Undergraduate Admission partners with the Office of Student Financial Services, the University Registrar, and the Virginia College Advising Corps, as a critical member of the University’s Enrollment team. We are seeking individuals who are interested in a career that is fulfilling and rewarding and who want to help us shape the University for the next decade and beyond. If there are students who want more information about the position or want to discuss the details, please contact Chelsea ‘CC” Duncan - Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach, Associate Dean of Admission.
The Charlottesville Freedom School Servant Leader Interns Positions Available
The Charlottesville Freedom School, hosted by UVA's Center for Race and Public Education in the South, is interviewing teachers (Servant Leader Interns) for Summer 2023. The position provides UVA students an opportunity to engage scholars in grades 3-8 in a five-week literacy and social justice education curriculum. The Charlottesville Freedom School is sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund and inspired by the freedom schools organized by the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. If you are interested, please apply here.
Generative Contemplation Symposium: The Art and Science of Effortless and Self-Emergence Contemplative Practices
The Contemplative Sciences Center is hosting the Generative Contemplation Symposium: The Art and Science of Effortless and Self-Emergence Contemplative Practices on April 21 and 22, 2023 at UVA. This in-person event will convene scientists, scholars, philosophers, and teacher-practitioners from across the world to explore the tension between effort and effortlessness in contemplative practices within Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. For More Information Contact Name Ellen Daniels
Cornerstone Summer Institute Counselor Applications Now Open!
Wednesday, June 21-Friday, June 30
The UVA Cornerstone Summer Institute is an eye-opening weeklong summer program for high school students to learn about slavery and its legacies and develop thinking skills that prepare them for success in college and beyond. The program focuses on uncovering the history of the area through historical investigation, archaeological excavation, and community engagement. Counselors of this camp are facilitators of learning who help students reckon with their own racial identities and their place in the world. Each counselor will lead a project group of 5 campers and serve as a role model for all. Counselors will receive a stipend for the week of the camp. All meals and housing will be provided. For More Information. Contact Name Ashley Schmidt
