In its relatively short life, the Cornell Africana Studies and Research Center has enriched the academic, cultural, and social environments on campus. The Center’s faculty and students represent many African nations and the full geographic range of the African diaspora. They contribute to interdisciplinary scholarship, teaching, and life at Cornell, and play a key role in fulfilling President Jeff Lehman’s vision of Cornell as a socially, culturally, and internationally diverse intellectual community that broadens global awareness and understanding.

Renovating and expanding its physical space enables the Africana Studies and Research Center to continue to strengthen its faculty and curricula and to expand academic collaborations across the university. In June 2004 the Center broke ground to renovate its existing building at 310 Triphammer Road and add a 6,000-square-foot extension. Construction is completed, and faculty and staff moved into the new facility in January 2005. The $4.5 million building project was partially funded with a grant from Cornell University and partially through a university loan to the Africana Center.

The Center now faces the challenge of raising $1 million toward the total cost of the project. You can play a major role in supporting the Center’s growth and advancing its efforts to prepare students for engagement in our increasingly multicultural world. There are many naming opportunities that will help the Center create the best teaching, learning, and research environment for faculty and students. To begin a discussion, please contact Laurie Robinson, director of development, Cornell University, 607.254.6183, lar8@cornell.edu.