ASU African & African American Faculty & Staff Association

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

11/24/2025

DJ SirPlus serving up the tunes at Homecoming and made the Homecoming party right! https://www.facebook.com/SirPlusMusicEnt/

11/23/2025

ASU Faculty Associate Tuo Clark joined the Black Business Summit to discuss his time in the music industry. He teaches in the popular music program guiding students on how to navigate the industry.

11/23/2025

Another cohort of SUNLite coaches ready to support the ASU community. This one includes Nakita Saxon, Obi Sneed, and Kimberlee Morrison.

11/23/2025

Thank you to the ASU Black Alumni Legacy Board for YEARS of support to the chapter and a fantastic 2025 homecoming!

11/19/2025

Shout out to Joanna DeShay and Neal Lester for their talk before the Diversity Leadership Alliance Conference 2025 conference!

11/17/2025

Love seeing the young ones having fun!