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Interdisciplinary Programs

Careers and Alumni

Overview

Understanding the history and lived reality of a major demographic group that accounts for 15% of the US population can enhance your chosen career. In the arts, medicine, business, law, education, and politics, among innumerable other fields, Africana Studies can broaden your outlook and deepen your awareness. Alumni of the Africana Studies Program are excelling in exciting careers such as International Affairs Specialist for the Department of Justice and Senior Technology Strategy Consultant.

Freddy Coleman

Freddy Coleman Portrait

How Africana impacted my career path:
During my tenure as an undergraduate at Lehigh, I minored in the Africana Studies program with a focus on the technological and sustainable developments on the African continent. The course work and the study abroad experiences in Ghana, Kenya, and Martinique activated a great interest to couple my academic experience to my career choices. Because of these unique experiences in the field, I was fortunate to found a media company, GhanaMade, based on the premise to amplify black and African creatives in West Africa and its Diasporas in the United States and United Kingdom. Over the years, I have had the opportunities to speak at reputable institutions such as the United Nations and the US Embassy to Ghana because of my Africana Studies background. Africana Studies is a foundationary program which can better enhance traditional academic disciplines from an intricate, globalised perspective.

Raven Monique Gaddy

Raven Monique Gaddy portrait at the white house

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” - Maya Angelou

A Hartford, Connecticut native, Raven Monique Gaddy was born with a passion for travel and a gift of helping others in need. Born to a supportive single mother, she has always been encouraged to live life on her own terms, and seize every opportunity afforded to her. Whether it is a new travel destination, or new craft she learned, Raven is always up to something new.