Professor of Africana Studies Tricia Rose was named director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, according to a University press release.
A regular contributor to several national media outlets, Rose specializes in topics related to African-Americans — including gender and sexuality, politics, popular culture and hip-hop — the last of which is the subject of her award-winning book, “Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America.”
The center, established in 1986, aims to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion about ethnic and racial groups and identities. The center has traditionally managed the University’s ethnic studies concentration, but oversight of the concentration will be transferred to the Department of American Studies this fall, according to the press release.
“We are delighted that Tricia will be taking over this highly important leadership position at Brown,” said Dean of the Faculty Kevin McLaughlin P’12 in the press release. “Her influential, widely discussed scholarship and her commitment to intellectually responsible discourse ... make her an ideal choice to take over leadership of this important center.”
Under Rose’s leadership the center will offer “faculty and graduate student workshops, art and media exhibits and performances, faculty seminars, postdoctoral fellowships and center-sponsored faculty and student events,” according to the press release. Her plans also include establishing “The Third Rail,” a lecture series that will address topics like affirmative action and immigration policy.
Rose will assume leadership of the center on July 1, replacing current director Evelyn Hu-DeHart, professor of history.
Jordan DeLoach ’15, who took AFRI 0620: “African-American Life in the City” with Rose in the fall, said the course was the best she has taken at Brown so far, adding that Rose emphasizes the material’s relevance to students’ daily lives. DeLoach described Rose as an “extremely enthusiastic” professor and “very funny.”
“Everyone is just drawn to her,” DeLoach said. “She really understands our culture, so she’s able to talk to us in ways we can understand and relate to.”
“The way that (Rose) taught the course is what made it such a good course,” said Kenya Wright ’15, who also took AFRI 0620, adding that Rose is “passionate,” “well-informed” and “engaging.”
DeLoach said that whatever new elements Rose brings to the center are sure to be “dynamic and interesting.”
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