Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 12, 2007, edition 1 / Page 3
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K)7 News Die Blue Banner — Sening rhe University ot Noith (Carolina at/\she\ille sinee 19S2 Thursday. April 12. 2007 aomi l\itu joins faculty to provide diversity education By Annabelle Hardy Staff Writer [Africana studies scholar and iiKi!! rights activist Naomi Tutu II join the UNC Asheville facul- as a senior lecturer next school :ir. She brings an llcredible range of ^perience in working with J verse populations ross Africa and . a very powerful personal history, well, she has a J miliarity with )th African and merican educa tional systems,” id Ed Katz, UNC sheville Dean for n i V e r s i t y ograms. Tutu is the daugh- I of South African anti- artheid activist Archbishop pursuing their studies,” Katz said. Tutu is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky and earned her Master of Arts degree in International Economic Development from the University of Naomi Tutu •esmond Tutu and was chairper- Tutu Peace son of the Inundation, according to tki Center for irtnership Sudies. Next semester she ^ill teach a Modern Africa course in the Africana S: t u d i e s ^riartment as Well as Gender and Economic Development in the Third World in the Women’s ST u d i e s lepartment. ■‘She can provide our students with a very powerful set of experi- icc' and viewpoints as they are She brings an incredible range of experience in work ing with divers populations across Africa and has a very powerful personal history. As well, she has a familiarity with both African and American educational sys tems. Ed K/Vrz Dean for Diversity Programs, UNC Asheville Kentucky, according to the Center for Partnership Studies. She worked at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, Brevard College and Tennessee State University. Tutu is current ly working in international stu dent program ming at Tennessee State University and will join UNC Asheville’s faculty next fall. “I think that this is a good example of the university’s broader commit ment to diversity and to engaging the issue of both faculty recruit ment and stu dent retention,” Katz said. Other mem bers of the uni versity commu nity also hope bringing Tutu to campus will help increase diversity in a meaningful way. UNC Asheville does a good job talking about the need for diversity and recogniz ing its importance, but there is sometimes a lack of meaningful Tki:y Bouvii-.k • Siam I’koiiKiRAi'in k A student ambassador leads a group of prospective UNC Asheville students and their parents earlier this week. While UNC Asheville struggles with bringing in a more diverse group of students each year, students and staff hope the addition of Naomi Ttitu as a senior lecturer, will help the community grapple with the difficult issue. Tiitu will teach a special topics class called M»dern Africa on Tuesdays and T’hursdays this fall. action being taken to really address the issue, according to UNC Asheville Alumna Kim Gentry. “I believe UNCA wants to create a diverse environment, but I also think that people don’t realize the types of fundamental changes that need to be made in order to make that happen. Recruiting faculty with diverse, international per spectives is a good step,” Gentry said. Intentionally hiring staff who represent a larger spectrum of the population, not just race, but other areas as well, is integral in creating a campus that is truly being diverse, not just one that is talking about diversity, according to Gentry. Tutu’s recruitment to UNC Asheville came from a university task force created to look into fur ther enhancing the Africana Studies program, which currently offers a minor program, according to Katz. “The task force is looking towards development opportuni ties for the program,” Katz said. Students and community mem bers alike will benefit from Tutu’s position at UNC Asheville because many locales take advantage of the lectures offered at the university as well as the special events and speak er’s series events, according to local resident Daniel Fitch. “Colleges are a big piul of the culture of a place. If UNCA’s working to be more diverse then it can create a ripple elfect and maybe Asheville can also learn to recognize its diversity a little more,” Fitch said. Fitch had the opportunity to hear Tutu speak at a special lecture she presented on the UN(' Asheville campus last year. “She .seemed to be a powerful and passionate speaker,” Fitch said. “I would think students would be lucky to take classes with her. I would.” t 1 nowwhat.com i I a « / * t * V •
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April 12, 2007, edition 1
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