Associate Fellow | The Harriet Tubman Institute

Elijah Baloyi

rebsl — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:12:46 +0000

Baloyi Magezi Elijah is a C2 NRF rated Full professor (UNISA) of Practical Theology and holds PhD in Practical Theology from University of Pretoria. Currently appointed as a member of NRF Evaluation and Rating Specialist Committee. A former Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology and a former chair of the Board of Research Institute of Theology and Religion, Unisa. A first African theological academic to be awarded Center of Theological Inquiry Membership under the topic “Thriving in Diverse Contexts” in Princeton, USA. Amongst other achievements, he is a 2025 recipient of a One Million Rand award recipient from the VC in 2025 for “A study program on psychological science for Researchers in Christian theology.” A former research Professor between 2023 and 2025 and a CPSC Board member and category 7 Religious specialist in Christian Pastoral Counselling. He became the first South African Academic to officially register research partnership between Unisa and Congress of Traditional Leaders in South Africa under the research subject: “Critical reflection on the erosion of post-colonial African Funeral Traditions.”

Keywords: Erosion, African, Funerals, Rituals, Dislocation

Joan Osa Oviawe

rebsl — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:57:09 +0000

Joan Osa Oviawe, PhD is a scholar–practitioner whose work focuses on African education systems, governance, gender, and the African diaspora. Her research examines the intersections of institutional reform, social justice, and community development in Africa and its global diasporas. She has held appointments as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for African Development and as a Visiting Scholar at the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University.

Dr. Oviawe’s professional work spans more than two decades and includes serving as Commissioner for Education and Executive Chairperson of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board in Nigeria, where she led large-scale foundational learning reforms and evidence-based system strengthening initiatives. Her scholarship and practice engage themes of African statecraft, women’s leadership, child protection, memory and identity in the diaspora, and the political economy of education.

She has contributed to international research collaborations with the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and the UNESCO Slave Route Project at 91��ɫ. Dr. Oviawe is the founder of the Africa Special Interest Group of the Comparative and International Education Society and participates in several interdisciplinary networks focused on African and diaspora studies. She brings to the Harriet Tubman Institute a sustained commitment to African-centered inquiry, public scholarship, and transformative community engagement.

Keywords: African education systems, foundational learning, diaspora studies, gender and leadership, African statecraft, institutional reform, social justice, child protection, community development, decolonial education, political economy of education, African governance, vulnerable children, African women’s leadership, public policy in Africa

Joshua Nortey

rebsl — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:55:47 +0000

Joshua Nortey is a Research Associate with the Indigenous Collaboration, Equity, and Inclusion (ICEI) portfolio at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. He holds a Master of Arts in Sociology with a specialization in Gerontology from Lakehead University. His research focuses on health equity, anti-Black racism, systemic racism in healthcare, qualitative and mixed-methods research, community engagement, and knowledge mobilization. Joshua is currently leading research examining equitable access to acute and tertiary healthcare for Black communities in Northwestern Ontario, with a commitment to translating evidence into policies and practices that advance equity and improve health outcomes.

Keywords: Health Equity, Anti-Black Racism, Black Health, Systemic Racism, Healthcare Access, Community-Based Research, Knowledge Mobilization, Qualitative Research, Health Services Research, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Public Health, Mixed Methods Research, Social Determinants of Health, Community Engagement, Health Policy

Kevin J. Hales

rebsl — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:23:36 +0000

Dr. Kevin J. Hales is an internationally respected educator, public scholar, author, filmmaker, consultant, and podcaster. With an extensive academic background in communication studies and Africology, Dr. Hales offers a unique perspective on the lives of everyday African-descended people worldwide. Hales studies ethnicity (“race”), Africanity, social justice, rurality, intercultural communication, and nonverbal communication. Professor Hales also examines indigenous African forms of communication, including writing and visual symbol systems. Hales has an unparalleled connection to African communities across four continents and the Caribbean. He has also received numerous research awards and teaching recognition from several major universities in the United States. In May 2025, the France-based organization AfrikaFora named Dr. Hales one of the most prominent voices in the twenty-first century in the study of people of African descent. Professor Hales was announced as the inaugural winner of the Bridging the Gap Through Education Award and honored at a banquet in Paris. Hales draws on his deep academic roots across multiple fields to teach audiences in a way few other scholars can. His exceptional and insightful approach to teaching and learning has earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of his students.

As a researcher, Professor Hales is dedicated to supporting projects that involve collaborations with traditional intellectuals in marginalized African-descendant communities. His partnerships include local scholars working among the Efik, Efut, Qua, and Igbo (Nigeria and Cameroon); Fulani and Mende (Sierra Leone); Garifuna (St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras, and Belize); Afro-Brazilians (Brazil); Afro-Colombians (Colombia); Afro-Panamanians (Panama); and Gullah/Geechee (South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Hales has served on the Governing Board of the Council of Igbo States in America (C.I.S.A.) and collaborates with the Igbo (Ebo) Landing Project in New England and the Carolinas. He is a member of the International Garifuna Council of Yurmein (St. Vincent) and the Grenadines. He has also collaborated with AfricaFora (France). Professor Hales has served as a visiting scholar or researcher at the University of Oran (Algeria), the University of Makeni (Sierra Leone), the University of Calabar (Nigeria), the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil), and the State University of Bahia (Brazil). Dr. Hales is part of the Temple School of research and has served as the Director of Educational Initiatives for the Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement (DISA/Temple University). Professor Hales has been a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission’s Cemetery Advisory Committee (African American Cemetery Project). Hales is part of the Journal Editorial Board of Africa and the Western World at the University of Oran 1 (Algeria).

Dr. Hales was recently selected to participate in several prestigious research programs. These include the Black Book Interactive Project (B.B.I.P.) Scholar Program (The History of Black Writing Program at the University of Kansas, August 2022 to July 2023); The Rural Scholar Program (The Rural Communication Institute/Texas Social Media Research Institute at Tarleton State University, August 2021 to August 2023); Project S.T.A.N.D. Fellow Program (Atlanta University Center/University of Maryland, August 2021 to September 2022); The Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies/Newberry Library Consortium Program (The Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, July 2018 to August 2018); and the National Endowment for the Humanities/Jackson State University Summer Fellow Program (National Endowment for the Humanities and The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute at C.O.F.O./The Human and Civil Rights Interdisciplinary Education Center, June 2017 to July 2017).

Throughout his career, Hales has secured support for his research from numerous prestigious institutions. These include the National Humanities Center, the University of Missouri-Columbia, the Newberry Library, the Marco Institute, the Center for Renaissance Studies at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the J. William Fulbright Scholar Program, the Fulbright-Hayes Program, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the United States Department of State/Bureau of African Affairs, the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Ohio University, the Scripps College of Communication, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University. This broad support underscores the significance and impact of his research and teaching.

Professor Kevin J. Hales attended Ohio University (Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication Studies), North Carolina Central University (M.A. in History), and Fisk University (B.A. in History, Religion, and Philosophy).

Keywords: Research, Collaborate, Migrations

Sharlene S Lansiquot Hasegawa

rebsl — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:10:54 +0000

Sharlene S. Lansiquot, is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia’s (Okanagan) School of Nursing. She completed undergraduate coursework through The City University of New 91��ɫ and has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies from New 91��ɫ. Sharlene completed some of her nursing prerequisites through the University of Rochester and her BS in Nursing from Columbia University in NYC. She completed graduate coursework in psychiatric/mental health nursing and social studies education, through Columbia University and the Relay Graduate School of Education, respectively. Sharlene has an MSN from Cedarville University through the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specialty program and a graduate certificate in Global Public Health Nursing. She also completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Nursing Education from Andrews University. As an Afro-Caribbean woman, whose mother is from Haiti, she greatly admires the strength and perseverance of the Haitian people and the significance of The Haitian Revolution because it was the most successful slave revolt in human history. Due to her cultural background, Sharlene feels especially connected to the incredible story of Harriet Tubman due her lasting influence as a nurse and representation as an archetype of liberation from bondage. Harriet Tubman was indeed famously nicknamed "Moses" and as a result, there is a special kinship that Sharlene experiences, due to her Orthodox Christian baptismal name being 'Moselle", which specifically honors her patron saint, the biblical prophet Moses, who Harriet Tubman was named after.

Keywords: Black girlhood, nursing history, health

Karine Coen-Sanchez

rebsl — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:34:34 +0000

Dr. Karine Coen-Sanchez is an independent sociologist and Founder and Executive Director of the Coen-Sanchez Research & Policy Institute (CSRPI), a federally incorporated Canadian not-for-profit research institute advancing interdisciplinary research, public policy, governance, and institutional equity. Her research examines institutional governance, race, migration, identity, and public policy.

She is the developer of Human Systems Mediation, an original interdisciplinary framework examining how governance systems, organizational cultures, and human experience interact to shape policy implementation and institutional outcomes. Her scholarship has also contributed conceptual perspectives such as Polite Racism, advancing research on institutional racism, equity, and organizational change.

Her work bridges sociology, governance, organizational studies, and policy research, with particular attention to Afro-Caribbean communities, institutional trust, and democratic governance. Her current research explores governance innovation, artificial intelligence, and evidence-informed policy to strengthen equitable and responsive institutions.

Through CSRPI, Dr. Coen-Sanchez extends this scholarship into applied research, policy development, and knowledge mobilization, connecting critical sociological research with practical approaches to institutional and public-policy challenges.

Keywords: Institutional Governance; Public Policy; Race and Racism; African Diaspora; Afro-Caribbean Studies; Migration; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Human Systems Mediation; Organizational Change; Artificial Intelligence and Governance; Knowledge Mobilization; Social Justice; Institutional Trust; Policy Implementation; Qualitative Research.

Oladotun Larry Anifowose

rebsl — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:31:21 +0000

Dr. Oladotun Larry Anifowose is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship, School of Logistics and Innovation Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, and an Associate Fellow of the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diaspora at 91��ɫ, Canada. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, an MSc in Banking and Finance, and a BSc in Economics.

His research interests include development economics, financial inclusion, poverty reduction, public finance, entrepreneurship, digital financial technologies (FinTech), inclusive growth, and quantitative and applied econometrics, with a particular focus on Africa. His research examines how financial systems, digital technologies, entrepreneurship, and public policies can contribute to poverty reduction, economic inclusion, food security, and sustainable development.

Dr. Anifowose has published in peer-reviewed journals and has extensive experience in teaching, postgraduate supervision, research collaboration, and academic development. His current research interests include digital financial inclusion, agricultural value chains and food security, financial inclusion and insurance, energy and food poverty, and technology-driven approaches to inclusive development in Africa.

As an Associate Fellow of the Harriet Tubman Institute, he is interested in advancing interdisciplinary research on Africa and its diaspora, strengthening international research collaborations, contributing to research clusters and knowledge-exchange activities, and supporting research and capacity development involving emerging scholars and students.

Keywords: Development Economics, Financial Inclusion, Digital Financial Inclusion, FinTech, Entrepreneurship, Poverty Reduction, Inclusive Growth, Public Finance, Economic Development, Agricultural Finance, Food Security, Agricultural Value Chains, Energy Poverty, Financial Technology, Social Justice, Applied Econometrics, Quantitative Research, Africa

Shaurya Prakash

rebsl — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:19:05 +0000

Dr. Shaurya Prakash is an Assistant Professor in the Programme of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, at Assam down town University, Guwahati, Assam, where he has been serving since January 2026. He is a scholar and practitioner with expertise in occupational stress, burnout, women's welfare, community health, mental health, and social work education.

Dr. Prakash completed his PhD in Social Work from Visva-Bharati (a Central University and Institution of National Importance) in February 2026, with a thesis titled Occupational Stress and Burnout Among Working Women: A Study of Selected Central Universities in Eastern States of India, supervised by Dr. Subhashree Sanyal. He has qualified both UGC-NET (December 2019) and UGC-NET JRF (February 2022), and holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Visva-Bharati, where he secured second rank at the university level.

He has an extensive publication record with 57 publications including works indexed in Scopus (7), ABDC-listed journals (6), and UGC CARE List journals (7), along with peer-reviewed articles, chapters in edited books, and contributions to open educational resources as MOOC developer for Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad. He is the co-editor of the book Social Reforms and Social Reformers in India (2025) and holds two registered copyrights with the Government of India.

Dr. Prakash serves as Assistant Editor of the Indian Journal of Health Social Work (a UGC CARE List journal) and is a reviewer for multiple reputed journals including the Journal of Applied Social Science (Sage), the South Asian Journal of Participative Development, and the Journal of Business and Social Science (INTI International University, Malaysia). He is also a Research Fellow at INTI International University, Malaysia, and an Academic Counselor (Social Work) at IGNOU, New Delhi.

An active participant in national and international academic forums, he has presented over 30 papers at conferences held across India, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia, and has served as chairperson, moderator, and rapporteur at numerous conferences. He is a Governing Body Member and Co-convenor of the Scientific Committee at the All India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals (AIAMSWP) and Vice President of EHSAAS – Feel the Desire of Nature and Society (NGO), Asansol, West Bengal.

His areas of scholarly interest span teaching and research, community and mental health, environment, women's empowerment, and livelihood. Dr. Prakash brings to his work a commitment to community-based practice grounded in the values of social justice, equity, and professional social work ethics.

Keywords: Social Work, Mental Health, Women & Gender, Community Health Tags, occupational stress, burnout, women empowerment, social work education, health

Sara Gallagher

rebsl — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:13:28 +0000

Sara Gallagher is a scholar of Black American literature and history, specializing in Black life in the Midwest and Western United States. She is the author of Black Wests, a study of Black settlement, cultural production, and regional identity in the American West. Her current research project, Unsettling the Heartland, examines Black migration, homesteading, and cultural formation in the U.S. Midwest, with attention to spatial history, diasporic geography, and transnational connections that include Black experiences and scholarship in Canada.

She is a professor at Durham College in Ontario, and her work bridges literary studies, cultural history, and Black diasporic scholarship across North American contexts.

Keywords: Black diaspora; African American literature; Black history; migration and mobility; Black North America

Magdaline Nkando

rebsl — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:16:00 +0000

Dr. Magdaline Nkando is the Founder and Lead of Kujua Collective, an African-led platform advancing knowledge systems transformation and Learning Justice. Her work focuses on how knowledge is produced, governed, and applied within institutions, and how this shapes development outcomes. She is developing Learning Justice as an emerging governance methodology, alongside the Learning Justice Framework and Index, to support institutional transformation. Her work spans research, policy advisory, and institutional capacity building across multilateral and African contexts, with a focus on advancing African knowledge systems within global discourse.

Keywords: Learning Justice, Knowledge Systems Transformation, African and Diaspora Knowledge Governance, Institutional Learning, Epistemic Justice, Knowledge-to-Policy Translation Systems, Global South Knowledge Systems