UMAPS Alumni Make Impact at 2024 ASA Annual Meeting

Atilola Abidemi-Iromini: AI and Gender in Fisheries Management

Atilola Abidemi-Iromini (UMAPS Alumni, Fall 2024) is a researcher and lecturer at Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Department, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology. She presented her paper, “Artificial Intelligence Impacts on Gender Issues Mitigation in Fisheries, Fish Trade, and Aquatic Environmental Management,” which explored the role of AI in fisheries management, with a focus on Nigeria. The presentation reviewed how technology-driven solutions can address gender disparities and enhance sustainability in fisheries and aquatic environmental management.

Reflecting on the experience, Abidemi-Iromini highlighted the invaluable audience feedback received, particularly regarding the integration of community development and cooperative fish farming along waterways and rivers. This insight has already been incorporated into future project plans, underscoring the conference’s role as a catalyst for innovative research and practical solutions.

Stella Antwiwaa: Women, Rhetoric, and African Feminisms

Stella Antwiwaa (UMAPS Alumn, Fall 2024) is a lecturer in the Department of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She also attended the conference, calling it the largest international academic gathering she has participated in. She engaged in thought-provoking sessions, including Women and Gender in West Africa During the Atlantic Era and Transatlantic Sorority: African Feminisms and Dialogues of Resistance, Curriculum, and Power Dynamics.

Antwiwaa presented her paper in the Africa Now session titled “Can the Subaltern Be Heard? Women and Rhetoric in Selected Euripidean and Ghanaian Plays.” Her work examined the rhetorical strategies used by women in Euripidean tragedies and their parallels in Ghanaian theater, exploring how these voices challenge societal norms and power structures. The presentation sparked engaging discussions on the intersections of classical and African literature, gender studies, and subaltern theory.

For Antwiwaa, the highlight of the conference was the opportunity to witness renowned scholars like Oyeronke Oyewunmi, whose humility and dedication to mentorship left a lasting impression.

Oluwanifemi Bamidele-Nelly: Building Global Academic Networks

Oluwanifemi Bamidele-Nelly (UMAPS Alumni, Fall 2024) is a lecturer in the English unit at the Institute of Technology-Enhanced Learning and Digital Humanities, FUTA, Nigeria. She described her experience at the 67th ASA meeting as profoundly positive. She found the conference to be an enriching space for intellectual exchange, stating:

“I enjoyed every panel I attended and had great feedback on my presentation. One of the major highlights for me was meeting with revered scholars and initiating career relationships beyond the conference. One of those meetings has resulted in a collaboration from which my institute and university in Nigeria are currently benefiting.”

She expressed her gratitude to the University of Michigan African Studies Center for the opportunity to attend the conference, emphasizing the importance of platforms like ASA in fostering academic growth and international partnerships.