ANN ARBOR, MI—The African Studies Center (ASC), a member of the International Institute, is pleased to announce the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) for 2014-15.

The cohort represents a broad range of academic interests and disciplines, including pharmacology, environmental history, mathematics, and nursing. Each scholar will be in residency for a two- to six-month period and will work closely with U-M faculty while pursuing individual writing and research projects.

UMAPS is designed to enhance collaboration between early career faculty from Ghana, Liberia, South Africa, and Uganda with students and faculty at the University of Michigan. The program is designed to support faculty development in Africa and capacity building for their home institutions. African scholars are brought to campus for four to six months and given access to library and research materials that can assist them with research projects, academic degrees, grant proposals, or other relevant activity. While in residency, the scholars are paired with a U-M faculty member for mentorship or collaboration on projects that will help advance their careers. These activities allow the university to build and strengthen lasting scholarly relationships with visiting scholars and their home institutions.

The confirmed scholars are:

Mariam Boakye-Gyasi, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Pharmaceutics, “Formulation, Physiochemical Evaluation and Bioavailability Assessment of Rectal Suppositories of Selected Antimalarial Medicines.”  Mariam’s mentor is Dr. Steven Schwendeman, Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

John Boateng, University of Ghana. Continuing and Distance Education, “Exploring Mechanisms for Effective e-Learning Integration into a Centre-based Adult Education.”  John’s mentor is Dr. Cary Engleberg, affiliated with Open Michigan, program for shared educational resources and Professor of Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology.

Dennis Chirawurah, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Endogenous Development, “Building Synergy and Complementarity in Midwifery in Africa: The Indigenous Midwifery of the Kasena in Northern Ghana.”  Dennis’ mentor is Elisha P. Renne, Department of Sociology and Population Studies.

Nicole DeWet, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Demography and Population Studies, “Socioeconomic Status and Youth Health Outcomes in South Africa.”  Nicole’s mentor is Professor Barbara A. Anderson, Department of Sociology and Population Studies.

Linda Fondjo, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Molecular Medicine, “Correlation between Placental Malaria Parasitaemia and the Occurrence of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension in Ghanaian Pregnant Women.”  Linda’s co-mentors are Drs. Frank Anderson, Cosmas Van de Ven, and Timothy Johnson, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Renee Gerring, University of Liberia. Engineering. Renee’s mentor is Professor Dimitrios Zekkos, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Solomon Habtay, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Technology and Innovation Management, “Entrepreneurship and Business Model Innovation Development Process in Africa.”  Solomon’s mentor is Professor Allan Afuah, Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Dennis Ikpe, University of South Africa. Mathematics, “Information-based Asset Pricing.”  Dennis’ mentors are Professors Erhan Bayraktar and Sergey Nadtochiy, Department of Mathematics.

Gesler Murray, University of Liberia. Geology, “The Paynesville Sandstone: Its Usefulness as a Water Reservoir Rock and an Academic Study.”  Gesler’s mentor is Professor Adam Simon from the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.

Muchaparara Musemwa, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. African History, “Water Scarcity: Colonial and Postcolonial Hydraulic Interventions in Southwestern Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, 1945-92.”  Mucha’s mentor is Professor Derek Peterson, Department of History and Afroamerican and African Studies.

Amy Niang, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. International Relations, “Rethinking Africa and/in the Constitution of the International: Against Recurrence and Repetition.”  Amy’s mentor is Professor Gabrielle Hecht, Department of History.

Samuel Nkumbaan, University of Ghana. Anthropology, “Archaeological Investigations at Tando Fagusa, Koma Land, Northern Region, Ghana.”  Samuel’s mentor is Professor Ray Silverman, History of Art and Department of Afroamerican and African Studies.

Nonyaniso Nkutu, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. Nursing, “Best Practices for Retention of Undergraduate Nursing Students in the Universities of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.”  Nonyaniso’s mentors are Professors Jody Lori and Patricia Coleman-Burns, School of Nursing.

Osei Owusu-Afriyie, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Anatomic Pathology, “Molecular Profiling of Head and Neck Cancers in a Ghanaian Population.”   Osei’s mentor is Professor Sofia Merajver, Department of Epidemiology and Internal Medicine.

Tshenesani Nigel Tapela, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. Urban Planning, “Planning and Sustainable Development of Mining Towns and Regions in Southern Africa.”  Nigel’s mentor is Professor Martin Murray, Taubman College of Urban Planning.

Ignatius Ticha, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. African Literature, “Evocations of Poverty in Selected Novels of Meja Mwangi and Roddy Doyle: A Study of Literary Representation.”  Ignatius’s mentor is Professor Andrea Zemgulys, English and Women’s Studies.

Scholar placements are still being finalized. For updates on the final list, or to learn more about UMAPS, please see the website: www.ii.umich.edu/asc

 

###