ASU African & African American Faculty & Staff Association

07/25/2026

Knowledge changes the mind but purpose changes the life,’ said Effie Adero reflecting on her time at ASU during the summer immersion portion of the 2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars program which is equipping talented African scholars with knowledge in technology and innovation to focus on developing their home countries. She said learning to see patterns in data sets was important, but not as important as who she is becoming because of what she learned. “ASU and Mastercard gave us a new lens through which to see the world.” Congratulations Mina Ahmad and the team for this day (…and the six marriages reputed to have resulted among the program’s participants over the years)!

03/12/2026

So excited for Professor Okorafor!

ASU English professor wins NAACP Image Award for fiction
Nnedi Okorafor can’t imagine writing a book that wasn’t personal to her.

In fact, Okorafor, a professor of practice in Arizona State University’s Department of English, knows she wouldn’t be capable of such a thing.

“If someone asked me to write something that was not connected to me, I couldn’t do it,” she said. “And I wouldn’t want to do it.”

Fortunately for Okorafor — and her readers — she has a way with words in the semi-autobiographical books she writes, so much so that her novel “Death of the Author” won the 2026 NAACP Image Award for fiction on Feb. 28.

03/08/2026

A 20 year tradition: the Pioneer Awards dinner wraps up each Black History Month and AAAFSA is proud to take part and lend support to Duku Anokye and Charles St.Clair. — Juan Marron, Nakita Saxon, Earl Lee, Tiffany King, Kenja Hassan and Alyssa Robillard

03/08/2026

For 20 years the Pioneer Awards dinner at ASU’s West Valley Campus has been held during the last Saturday of Black History Month to honor African Americans in Arizona who have worked many years at improving the lives of others. This year we celebrate Chester Ferguson who has mentored young men through the 100 Black Men of Phoenix. Honors are due to Charles St. Claire and Duku Anoyke for this annual labor of love.

03/08/2026

Allison Otu had her Oprah Moment with the panel of appointed cabinet directors, followed by Corey Woods’ Montel Moment with Governor Hobbs. All these powerful women spoke of efforts to increase affordable housing, protect Arizona’s share of Colorado river water, ensure local communities have a chance to participate in economic development and prevent taxpayers from absorbing the costs of data centers.

02/07/2026

Center for the Study of Race and Democracy honored as living history!

ASU Alumni and Faculty Honored at Living History Awards
We are excited to share ASU’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy will be recognized as a champion for civil rights alongside the following ASU Alunni: Mayor Corey Woods, City Councilman Kevin Robinson, Former State Representative Reginald Bolding, Attorney Jocquese Blackwell (Go Devils!). We hope you can join us.

SAVE THE DATE
February 28, 2026
8:30 - 11:30 AM
The Salvation Army KROC Center
1375 E. Broadway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85040