AAAD 401: Internship in African, African American and Diaspora Studies provides students with opportunities to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to professional and community-based settings. It provides valuable experience and prepares students for working independently in the field.

Below is a list of our past interns that have worked with the AAAD Center and various other programs throughout the JMU community.

My name is Sydney Moon and I graduated in the Fall of 2021 as an English major with minors in Creative Writing and AAAD. I was AAAD’s social media intern for the Spring 2020 and Fall 2021 semesters. In the Fall semester of 2021, I served as a production/research assistant on the project: “Gender and Sexuality in Kenyan Societies” edited by Besi Muhonja and Babacar M’Baye. I have been published in Quirk Literary Journal and my poetry has been featured on JMU’s Creative Writing Program’s social media. I am unsure of my plans after I graduate, but grad school is certainly on the horizon. I grew up just outside of Washington DC and am currently located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, spending my days hiking, writing, and completing my studies remotely.

My name is TaLisha Hairston. I am a Junior Psychology Major, AAAD minor. I am also one of the AAAD interns. My hometown is Williamsburg, VA. And I am also a first generation college student, so what I am looking forward to is to continue to make the most out of every positive and challenging moment that presents itself to me here.

My name is Qyaira (Key-AIR-Uh) Colbert and I was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA. Although I am from Lynchburg, I permanently live about 30 minutes away from Longwood University in Farmville, VA. I am a fourth-year Sociology Major with a minor in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies. I am one of the AAAD interns and I am also the president of a new organization at JMU named Creative Passions Coalition. While being an intern for the AAAD minor and president of Creative Passions Coalition, I am also a Resident Advisor for JMU. After I graduate, I plan on working with children in urban areas

My name is Spencer Law, and I am a senior Media Arts & Design and History double major with minors in Honors and African, African American, and Diaspora Studies. My research focuses on local history in Harrisonburg, racial integration in Virginia schools, and queer activism. Outside of AAAD, Spencer works for the department of Career & Academic Planning as a graphic designer. I also work as a research assistant for the Celebrating Simms project. In the future, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in history. My goal is to use my background in interaction design and public history to make the stories of minority groups more accessible to the public. I spend my free time reading poetry, playing guitar, and listening to public radio.

My name is Kofi Karikari and as an AAAD intern, I have been given the opportunity to develop my skills as a designer, by creating promotional materials for the AAAD program. I believe what I create will further grow the AAAD community.

My name is Lillie Jacob, and I’m a Senior English Major with minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS), African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD), History, and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. I serve as Research Assistant to Dr. Besi Brillian Muhonja, where I work on scholarship that relates to both WGSS and AAAD. My research interests include contemporary queer and Black literature, and how those two fields increasingly intersect with each other and themes of disidentification and temporality. Outside of being a research assistant, I intern with JMU Special Collections and am a teaching assistant for Black Studies, Black Spaces, as well as Hacking for Diplomacy. After graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in either English or Cultural Studies, and go on to teach at the university level.

My name is Lily Craig. I am a sophomore English Major with minors in Secondary Education, AAAD, and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies from Chantilly, VA. In addition to being an AAAD intern, I am a Student Ambassador for the university and am a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity. I am excited to use this experience to build my community here at JMU and to use my platforms to advocate for the AAAD program.

My name is Zaria Johnson. I’m a Sophomore International Affairs Major with a double minor in AAAD and French. I have aspirations of working as a dermatologist and then eventually working for an international organization, like WHO, in order to be a voice in the international medical community who stresses the inclusion of darker skin in international conversations.

My name is Jenna Conrades, and I’m a Junior Nursing major with minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS), African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD), and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. Last semester, I had the opportunity to work as a social media intern for AAAD. This summer and fall, I have been working for Dr. Godfrey on the oral research project “Black Studies, Black Spaces”. My roles on this project include finalizing transcripts, editing audio files, and preparing the project to be transferred to JMU Special Collections. After graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in either Nursing or Public Health and hope to incorporate my passion for equitable healthcare for marginalized communities into my future research.

My name is Sophia Ferguson. I am senior Communication Studies major with a double minor in AAAD and Sociology. I am currently the PR director for Bluestone Communications, the student-run PR firm at JMU. Along with this, I am the unity chair for my service sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma. This semester I am running AAAD's social media and having an amazing time working with all the faculty and students! I hope to use my knowledge from the AAAD minor to advocate for those who need it most!