Undergraduate students are encouraged to study abroad in Africa, in Indiana University or those at other universities. Graduate students can apply for FLAS fellowships to support their study of African languages. The African Studies Program regularly organized conferences and workshops, on its own or in collaboration with other programs and institutes, on a variety to topics. The backbone of our academic programming is our affiliated African Studies faculty. They engage in innovative research and excel in teaching at all levels. Supporting our faculty is our African Studies staff, housed in Woodburn Hall. We encourage you to explore our academic offerings.

Faculty Highlight

Heather Akou
Apparel Merchandising & Interior Design (Design Studies)
Assistant Professor, Strategic Director of Design + Culture

I’ve been a professor at Indiana   University since Fall 2004 in the   department of Apparel Merchandising   and Interior Design (soon to be called   Design Studies). My areas of expertise   in this discipline include textiles,   cultural aspects of dress, fashion   theory, aesthetics, and qualitative   research methods. Along with a PhD in   Apparel Studies from the University of   Minnesota, I also have a bachelor’s   degree in Fine Arts from Macalester   College (St. Paul, Minnesota) and six years of professional experience as a weaver. In my teaching I often build on my research, which focuses on African and Islamic dress as a form of expressive culture.  This refers to types of “artistic” expression that are part of everyday life, such as song lyrics, movies, literature, and clothing. . . .

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