ASC Hosts Annual Bradford Morse Lecture and Fall Reception
The African Studies Center (ASC), an affiliated regional center of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, hosted their annual Bradford Morse Distinguished Lecture and fall reception during BU’s Alumni Weekend festivities on September 20, 2018.
BU Alumni Barbara M. Cooper, Professor of History at Rutgers University, delivered the 2018 Bradford Morse Distinguished Lecture on “Reflections on a Baby Scandal: Paradoxes of Fertility and Infertility in West Africa.”
Cooper’s research interests include history of West Africa, history of religion, women’s and gender History and the history of health.
Following the Bradford Morse Distinguished Lecture, the African Studies Center hosted their annual Fall Feast and Reception on the lawn across from 121 Bay State Road. The feast and reception saw droves of alumni and current African Studies Center community members turn out to celebrate the start of the academic year over hors d’oeuvres and dinner.
Founded in 1953, the African Studies Center has long been a national and international leader in training Africa specialists and supporting research focused on Africa. The Center’s mission is to promote knowledge and understanding of the historical, social, political, economic, and ecological diversity of the continent of Africa through maintaining a multidisciplinary community of students, faculty, and researchers from BU and the Boston area with an interest in Africa and encouraging a focus on Africa in teaching and scholarship.
The Bradford Morse Distinguished Lectureship at Boston University was established through the generous support of the Industry Council for Development and in recognition of the contribution of the Honorable Bradford Morse to international peace through development. Mr. Morse, an alumnus of BU and the BU School of Law, joined the United Nations in 1972. From 1976 to 1986, he served as the administrator of the United Nations Development Program, the major source of United Nations development assistance to developing countries, including those of sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more about the lectureship here.