PHILADELPHIA--The Afro-American Studies Program and the Center for the Study of Black Literature and Culture at the University of Pennsylvania have merged into the newly created Center for Africana Studies.

The Center for Africana Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences is a space for the critical examination of not only the cultural, social, political, economic and historical experiences of African-Americans, but of the African Diaspora.

On Sept. 24 at 3:00 p.m., Penn President Judith Rodin, Africana Studies Center Director Tukufu Zuberi, and others will welcome new faculty and invited guests to the official opening of the Center located in Suite 331A, 3401 Walnut St. in Philadelphia.

"The Center is a mecca for research projects, fellowships for emerging and established scholars, publications, conferences and working groups. The Center continues to promulgate the mission of the Afro-American Studies Program by offering a major and minor in African-American Studies, and producing cutting-edge programming that includes public conferences, lectures, book talks, and forums," said Zuberi.

Penn's Afro-American Studies Program, one of the nation's oldest research programs dedicated to the study of Africa and the African Diaspora, was founded in 1972. It was established in response to a national movement by college students across the United States to add courses exploring black history, literature and culture to their school's curricula.

The Program has experienced major expansion in the past few years with the University's renewed commitment to the recruitment of African-American Studies faculty, most recently, prominent popular-culture scholar Michael Eric Dyson.

The Center for Africana Studies will mark the 30th anniversary of African-American studies at Penn with "Back to the Future of Civilization," a year-long series of events, including moderated panel discussions on literature, society, arts and culture, critical theory and history in the African-American and African Diasporic experiences.

Additional information is available at the Center for Africana Studies, 215-898-4965.

EDITORS NOTE: Interviews with Africana Studies faculty members attending the opening will begin at 4:30 p.m. To arrange an interview contact Jacquie Posey at 215-898-6460 or jposey@pobox.upenn.edu.