Homepage image: Chinaza Okonkwo of Los Angeles was one of 65 students enrolled in the 2018 Africana Studies Summer Institute, now in its 36th year. The Institute is one of the hallmarks of the Africana Studies Department.
Black histories and Black futures
Professors and students reflect on 50 years of Black studies at Penn.
For religious studies professor Jolyon Thomas, “faith is a black box,” he says. Rather than be a participant in religious faith, Thomas is much more interested in studying its causations, repercussions, and interplay with identity, politics, and education.
Jolyon Baraka Thomas on curiosity and contentment
For Jolyon Baraka Thomas of the School of Arts & Sciences, the route to religious studies was the same one that led him away from faith.
Mehek Boparai competed in the 2022 Jeopardy National College Championship.
Mehek Boparai on ‘Jeopardy’s National College Championship’
Twenty-five thousand people tried out for this year’s “Jeopardy National College Championship,” which began Feb. 8. Of those, 36 were chosen, including Penn senior Mehek Boparai.
Barbara D. Savage (top left) led Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad, founder of the Muslim Wellness Foundation; Rev. Leslie D. Callahan, first woman pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist Church; and activist Bree Newsome in the second annual University Forum on Social Equity and Community.
Interfaith activism at the second annual University Forum on Social Equity and Community
In the second annual University Forum on Social Equity and Community, the School of Arts & Sciences’ Barbara D. Savage moderated a conversation on interfaith activism.
Alexis McGill Johnson (left) and Dorothy Roberts spoke at the 21st Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in Social Justice, centered on reproductive rights and anti-racism.
Anti-racism and reproductive justice
PIK Professor Dorothy Roberts joined Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, in the 21st annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in Social Justice. They addressed the intersectional nature of anti-racism and reproductive freedom.
Buddhist temples (like the one above in Wat Pho, Thailand) are often ornately decorated with gilded statues, flowers, and incense. “Religion,” says McDaniel, “is often a celebration, not an austere retreat.” (Image: Frida Aguilar Estrada on Unsplash.)
Justin McDaniel on life, death, religion, and his latest book
In his new book, “Wayward Distractions,” the School of Arts & Sciences’ Justin McDaniel compiles articles on art and material culture spanning his 20-plus years of scholarship.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy continues to inspire, offering opportunities to reflect and engage.
A virtual day of service
Penn’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change will be virtual this year, offering events for adults and children of all ages.
Today’s consumer expects a seamless integration between storefronts and the digital experience, which is often facilitated through mobile phones, says Barbara Kahn. (Image: Tim Douglas)
Post-COVID retail trends: omnichannel, the metaverse, and creativity in marketing
Since the pandemic’s onset, retailers’ reactions to government regulations limiting capacity and consumer demands for equity and authenticity have been finessed into smarter, more flexible responses, says marketing professor Barbara E. Kahn.
Kwanzaa, an African American cultural holiday, starts on Dec. 26 and goes through New Year’s Day. At Penn, it's a time to come together and take stock.
