Meet the Team

Leadership

Donette Francis

Donette Francis

Assoc. Professor
Director for the Center for Global Black Studies

(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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Edmund Abaka

Edmund Abaka, Ph.D.

Assoc. Professor
Director of Graduate Studies

(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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Sophia George

Sophia George

Professor

(305) 243-2036
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Emelia Duarte

Sr. Business Officer 2 - Schools/Colleges (Central Budget)

(305) 284-9343
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Office Manager

Suzanne Foster

saf214@miami.edu

(305) 284-2493

Student Assistants

Giltrecia Head, UGROW Fellow for the Center and Program Coordinator

Giltrecia Head | CGBS UGROW Fellow | PhD History
CGBS Program Coordinator 

As the 2025-26 UGROW Fellow for the Center for Global Black Studies, Giltrecia Head serves the Program Coordinator for this year's events and activities. She is a PhD student specializing in African and African Diaspora histories and her research focuses on bridging African, African Diaspora, and transnational histories, emphasizing the narratives of historically marginalized communities. She is also a McKnight Dissertation Fellow and recipient of the 2025 Edward Bouchet Honor Society. Her contact email is gxh395@miami.edu.

 

Kelby James, Student Assistant

Kelby James | Junior | Psychology & Criminology
CGBS Office Assistant | Digital Media Manager

Kelby James is a junior from Baltimore, Maryland, majoring in Psychology and Criminology with minors in Biology and Sociology. Outside of the Center, Kelby serves as a Dean’s Ambassador for the CAS, PR & Marketing Chair for UBS, Distribution Chair for LOV, a member of SG’s DEI Council, and a research assistant for Prof. Nowotny in the sociology department.

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