Meet the Team

Faculty and Staff

Donette Francis

Assoc. Professor
Director for the Center for Global Black Studies

d.francis@miami.edu

(305) 284-5608
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Donette Francis is director for the Center for Global Black Studies and past director the American Studies Program at the University of Miami. An Associate Professor of English and founding member of the Hemispheric Caribbean Studies Collective, her research and writing investigate place, aesthetics and cultural politics in the African...
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Kristine A Stephenson

Manager, Business Operations

kstephenson@miami.edu

(305) 284-2493
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Kristine Stephenson is the Business Manager for UM’s Center for Global Black Studies. Prior to joining the CGBS team, she served as a Manager of Advising for the College of Arts & Sciences where her primary focus was student retention and recruitment.Kristine has served and advocated for underserved and underrepresented students in...
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Edmund Abaka, Ph.D.

Assoc. Professor
Director of Graduate Studies

e.abaka@miami.edu

(305) 284-3702
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A graduate of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Dr. Abaka earned his Ph.D. in African History from York University and his Master of Arts in European History from the University of Guelph in Canada. He teaches African and African Diaspora History courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These include HIS 201: History of Africa I...
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Student Employees

Bright Petiafo
Asia Blocker: Office Assistant - Graphics Design & Marketing,
Major | Marketing & Finance
Deitrick Knatt: : Office Assistant - Digital Media Management,
Major | Advertising Management & Africana studies
Bright Petiafo: UGROW Fellow,
Doctoral Candidate, History