From: AFRICAN GRADUATE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AT CORNELL
Date: June 8
Subject: AfriGA May Newsletter


June Newsletter 

Hello AfriGA community,

We hope you are having a wonderful break and enjoying your 104 days of summer vacation.

Recent Highlights 

African Global Summit

We had our Summit in May where we had excting guest speakers who delivered great lectures and fascinating conversations about a myriad of topics including the implications of AI for African societies, the intersections of population dynamics, education, inequality, and development and presentations of papers by student researchers. 

Graduation Party

We also had an event to celebrate our recent grads where there was lots of food, fun and games.
Godspeed to them as they go forth into the world. 

Announcements 

Anticipate! AfriGA’s upcoming summer picnic. 
 

Get Involved with AfriGA
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Executive Board positions for the 2026–27 academic year. We invite you to nominate yourself or other qualified individuals interested in serving the community in any capacity.

Serving on the Executive Board is an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the association, support fellow students, and help shape next year’s programming and community engagement. Board members work together as a team to create a safe, welcoming, and vibrant space for new and returning African students.

Please use this form to submit your nominations.

You may nominate yourself or someone else for more than one position, provided they can fulfill the role. Please note that nominations close on June 15. We look forward to your participation.

Opportunities & Resources

♢ Laura Bassi Scholarship
The Laura Bassi Scholarship was established in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed, within their disciplines. The scholarships are open to every discipline and are awarded three times per year: December, April, and August.
More information here.
 
♢ The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
An international fellowship program open to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building—including academics, independent scholars, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets). Visual artists at work on a book project are also welcome to apply. The Center appoints 15 Fellows a year for a nine-month term at the Library, from September through May. In addition to working on their own projects, the Fellows engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas within the Center and in public forums throughout the Library. 
More information here. 

♢ Public Region Research Institute Call for Fellows
PRRI is announcing an opportunity to join a diverse cohort of 9 non-residential Public Fellows who are engaged in public scholarship at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics.
PRRI Public Fellows will work alongside the organization’s research and communications staff during the 2026-2027 academic year (September to July). This 11-month fellowship includes a stipend, support for a course release during the spring semester, and access to microgrants to support collaborative research. The fellowship will benefit scholars who want to shape their work for broader public consumption, receive communications support for placing public-facing work in top-tier media outlets, and integrate quantitative data into their research and teaching. Successful fellows will be eligible to apply for a one-time renewal at the end of the program year; however, renewal is not guaranteed.
Apply here. 
 

Free Academic Resources

♢ Cornell Student Perks 
Cornell provides free and discounted tools that can make graduate life easier, including academic software, fitness oaccess, and cultural discounts. View student perks & discounts.

♢ Funding, Access & Emergency Support

Support is available for conference travel, research expenses, and unexpected financial needs.  Explore funding & emergency support options.

♢ Community Shout-Outs & Spotlights

From dissertation defenses and publications to internships, presentations, and personal wins, AfriGA celebrates you. If you have announcements, resources, or milestones to share, please send them our way. afrigacornell@gmail.com 

♢ Immigration, Careers & Planning Ahead

Immigration planning, careers and internships are key parts of the graduate experience. Explore Cornell immigration, advising and career resources

♢ Campus Life, Wellness & Support

Graduate school can be demanding, but Cornell offers programs and resources to support mental health, well-being, and community connection. If you ever feel overwhelmed, support is available. Explore wellness and support resources

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!

“AfriGA member of the Month”

Name: Esther Adewale 

Country: Nigeria

Course and Department: Material Science and Engineering 

How would you describe yourself in three words: friendly, optimistic and resilient

Favorite thing about Cornell and/or Ithaca: My Lab/ His Tabernacle Family Church

Favorite AfriGA moment: African Global Summit 2026

Fun fact about you: None

What advice would you give someone just starting out at Cornell: Learn how your program or lab actually works early; expectations, communication style, and what counts as good progress. Also, be proactive in communication. Ask for what you need without overthinking it; the worst outcome is usually just a no.

Want to be featured or nominate someone?

Email us at afrigacornell@gmail.com


Stay Connected

Instagram: @afrigacornell

LinkedIn: AfriGA Cornell

Gmail: afrigacornell@gmail.com 


We Want to Get to Know You!

To help us better understand our members and how best yo serve you this year, please take 5 minutes to complete this short survey.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete it. Your voice is essential to building a stronger AfriGA community this year.

Thank you for being a part of the AfriGA community. We look forward to seeing you next semester.

AfriGA Executive Board