Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

October 03, 2005

Professor from Zimbabwe Teaching History of Africa
Hughes Named Manager of GEAR UP Program
Assistant Director of Human Resources Named
Worth Quoting

Professor from Zimbabwe Teaching History of Africa

By Beth Stephenson, Student Writer

The UA department of history will broaden its curriculum this year by offering classes on the history of Africa taught by Dr. Josephine Nhongo Simbanegavi, UA assistant professor of history from Zimbabwe.

Simbanegavi said because a significant segment of the population in the South traces their past and their identity to Africa, it is important for the University’s curricula to reflect that and to promote a better understanding of Africa.

History course offerings should “accommodate all sections of our population, giving African-Americans an opportunity to learn about their ancestral past in a way that takes them beyond the history of enslavement. A study of African institutions and civilizations takes their history to a healthier start,” she said.

Simbanegavi studied for her first degree at the University of Zimbabwe and then attended St. Antony’s College in Oxford University where she obtained her doctorate in 1997. She taught for a number of years at the University of Zimbabwe prior to coming to the United States. Before assuming her current position, she was a UA Bankhead Fellow and a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in New York.

This fall she is teaching two courses. One is “Introduction to the Study of African History,” a 200-level introductory class designed to contrast students’ preconceived knowledge of Africa with perspectives that are African-informed. The other is a 400-level course titled “Women in Southern African History,” a class that traces feminist issues in Southern African countries as they relate to changing times and changing cultures. This Southern Africa-focused course connects Simbanegavi with her current research project of investigating the intricate relationship between gender and international migration in that region.

At present, Simbanegavi is the only professor of African history teaching at UA. She hopes that her classes will interest students and gain enough attention that complementary courses could be added. She also hopes that the University will broaden its study abroad programs to Africa.

Hughes Named Manager of GEAR UP Program

Kathleen Patrick Hughes has been named manager of the GEAR UP Program.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP, housed in the UA Center for Teaching and Learning, is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Through community partnerships, it provides area youth a variety of services and opportunities that helps them be successful and prepare for post-secondary education and future careers.

Hughes holds degrees from UA and the George Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. She has served in educational and civic positions, most recently as coordinator of the Juvenile Mentoring Program, funded in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Hughes began as manager of GEAR UP in August.

The GEAR UP program offers some 900 students at Holt High School and Davis-Emerson Middle School academic, cultural, community and college resources to assist them, their parents and teachers. GEAR UP provides these area students in grades 7-12 after-school academic tutoring, mentoring, cultural and educational field trips, creative arts experiences and opportunities for community service.

The program also sponsors special events such as career days, test preparation workshops, financial aid and college admissions resources for students and parents, and supports professional development for school faculty through the Alabama Consortia for Educational Renewal housed in the UA College of Education.

The original GEAR UP grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $1.1 million was supported by a 50 percent dollar match of cash and in-kind contributions from local community partners. GEAR UP primary partners include the UA College of Education, School of Social Work, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Student Financial Aid and the Center for Teaching and Learning. Additional primary partners include the Office of the Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, Shelton State Community College, Holt High School, Davis-Emerson Middle School and the Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center.

The University recently received notice from the U.S. Department of Education that GEAR UP funding will be extended through a sixth year, 2005-2006. During this sixth year, GEAR UP will work to establish local program sustainability.

Assistant Director of Human Resources Named

Marylyn K. Gavin, who has 33 years of experience in personnel management, joined the UA human resources department as an assistant director of human resources in August.

In her new position, Gavin provides administrative oversight for human resource development and the University’s human resources partners. Gavin’s area of specialty is staff classification and compensation systems.

Gavin began her career in 1972 as a personnel officer with the Jefferson County Personnel Board. She also worked for the city of Birmingham, the State of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Most recently, Gavin was director of human resources at Samford University. Among her professional involvements, she is treasurer of the Alabama Chapter of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics at UA.

Worth Quoting

“ There is the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels in terms of global warming, as well as local and regional air quality issues. Finally, there is a limited supply of petroleum that is readily accessible, and we will need new energy sources for future generations if they are to enjoy a high quality of life.” Dr. David Dixon, Robert Ramsay Chair of Chemistry, as quoted in the Birmingham News on the need to develop alternative fuels. The story featured UA’s hydrogen-related research efforts.

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