About the Project
50+ Years of Africana Studies at Simmons University is a digital exhibit that documents the emergence and growth of Africana Studies at Simmons. It is a site dedicated to institutional history of Black studetns and Black Studies.
This site also houses the Simmons Black Oral History Project (SBOHB), a community-based oral history project that seeks to document the lives and experiences of Black Simmons alumnae/i.
Lastly, this site provides current information about the Simmons Africana Studies program, highlighting program events and showcasing student work.
The research and items derive primarily from the Simmons University Archives. This exhibit was curated by Professor Tatiana Cruz and graduate student Mara Gregory, as well as undergraduate student Lamya Richardson in partnership with former University Archivist Jason Wood and current University Archivist Kelsey Kolbet.
We also thank the many who generously shared their knowledge and experiences with us, especially the students and alumnae/i who participated in the Black Oral History Project.
Support
Phase I (Spring 2022) of the Simmons Black Oral History Project was made possible through the Simmons Public Humanities Faculty Seminar Fellowship. A special thank you to Dr. Laura R. Prieto (Alumni Chair in Public Humanities) and the 2021-2022 faculty fellows for all their support.
Phase II (Summer 2022) of the Simmons Black Oral History Project was made possible through a grant co-sponsored by the Simmons University Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and Eileen Friars '72. A special thank you to Nakeisha M. Cody (Assistant Provost) and Jaime K. Libowitz (Operations Manager, Undergraduate Program) for all their support.
Phase III (Spring 2023) of the Simmons Black Oral History Project received additional support from the Simmons University President's Office and the Simmons African American Alumnae/i Association, who invited us to present on the project at the Black Alumnae/i Symposium in April 2023.
Phase IV (Spring 2025) is currently underway.
Project Team
Director
Dr. Tatiana M.F. Cruz (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and Director of Africana Studies and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Simmons University. She holds a B.A. from Williams College, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
Digital Curator
Mara Gregory (she/her) graduated in 2022 from Simmons with a MLIS degree and a concentration in Archives Management. She also holds an MA in the History of Medicine. She is a Postgraduate Fellow at the Dartmouth Digital History Initative at Dartmouth College.
Research Fellow and Webmaster
Lamya Richardson (she/they) will graduate from Simmons in 2025 with a B.A. in Africana Studies and Sociology. She holds a Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship where she works closely to support Dr. Cruz in her research and the SBOHP.
Student-Interviewers:
- Karla Alba, M.A. '23
- Anna Boyles ‘22
- Laura-Luiza Cabral Gouvêa '24
- Sunei Clarke ‘24
- Sarah Granoff ‘23
- Alexandra Huamán '26
- Kas Hunt ‘23
- Kaycee Jackson '23
- Masumi Kagaya, M.A. '24
- María Elisa Martínez Anzola '23
- Kaela Roach ‘23
- Sara Slager ‘23
- Allie Toole ‘24
- Toben Traver, M.A./M.S. ‘22
- Reham Zeroual '24