Rebekkah Hudson

Place of Origin: Jacksonville, Florida

Major: History and Linguistics with minors in African Studies and English

Interest in African Studies: I have a strong interest in 20th century East African history and, in particular, histories that depict the relationship between social, cultural, and environmental issues. These research interests lay the framework for my dedication to uncovering the African voices and histories that are often swept to the periphery or absent altogether from global narratives. This dedication stems from a number of courses I have taken through the Center for African Studies, namely African History and Swahili language courses.

Passion: I am deeply passionate about historical literacy, language learning, and promoting educational information and opportunities to my peers through mentorship programs. These various passions underpin my academic, professional, and personal pursuits, and they largely contribute to my connection with the Center for African Studies.

Five-Year Aspirations: My future goals include becoming fluent in both written and spoken Swahili and pursuing a PhD in African History after graduation. Ideally, my research would focus on the changes and continuities of Kenyan cultural practices and beliefs that affected their lived experiences throughout the colonial era.

Elena M. Ashburn 

Place of Origin: Louisville, Kentucky 

Major: Political Science and International Studies (Europe)

Interest in African Studies: My connection to Africa starts with my family. Although my family originally hails from Sweden, my mother was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to the United States during her childhood. Growing up surrounded by these tidbits of African culture and history laid the foundation for my academic pursuits. My academic interest in Africa took root when I was a Junior Research Fellow under Dr. Sebastian Elischer. As I assisted him with his research on military coups, I delved deeply into the complex histories of his countries of interest, many of which were African nations. This past summer, I interned at the Department of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, where I focused on African foreign policy. I hope to add an African Studies minor in the future, and hopefully start Swahili or Portuguese classes, furthering my study of the continent and its many cultures.  

Passion: I am very passionate about research, and I am so grateful for the many opportunities provided by the Center for African Studies to get involved in and educated on research concerning the African continent. My first introduction to the Center was through their weekly Barazas, and I always found their research talks so engaging. My experience through the Center and its affiliate faculty has led me to focus my honors thesis on Africa. I am passionate about sharing the many resources offered by the Center to the student body, and I am sure they will find them just as helpful as I do.

Five-Year Aspirations: Following graduation, I hope to receive a graduate degree focusing on global security and diplomacy. I also intend to join the Foreign Service, where I hopefully will get to travel and work in Africa.  

Abigail Ryan

Place of Origin: Flourtown, Pennsylvania

Major: PhD Anthropology (specialization: Cultural Anthropology) with a certificate in Tropical Conservation and Development.

Interest in African Studies: I am interested in pastoralism in East Africa, particularly among the Maasai communities in northern Tanzania. My current research focuses on livelihood diversification, conservation, and women’s empowerment. I am also interested in traditional medicinal practices among Maasai communities and how gender, age, and social status influence knowledge and practice of traditional medicine. I have visited Tanzania and Kenya. I want to visit South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Senegal as well. I currently study Kiswahili and recently started learning Maa (the Maasai language).

My research focuses on interdisciplinary, community-based approaches to ensure the voices of people I work with are foregrounded in all my work. I continuously draw on approaches from anthropology, sociology, history, and development studies in my research

Passion: I am a former Team USA figure skater and actually had the opportunity to meet and work with skaters in Nairobi, Kenya a few years ago. I am an avid reader of Swahili literature and love finding new fiction books when I travel to East Africa. I also love trying new foods and exploring markets wherever I travel.

Five-Year Aspirations: In five years, I hope to finish my PhD and continue working in East Africa with the academic institutions and local organizations I work with in my current research. I also hope to travel more throughout the African continent and explore all the regions of North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Adam Syar

Place of Origin: Annandale, Virginia

Major: Zoology

Interest in African Studies: I am Malagasy, a person from Madagascar. With this, I’ve always had a strong connection to Africa, and I wish to continue to foster that connection here at the University of Florida. My specific interest in African studies centers on the Southern and Eastern regions of the continent close to where I am originally from. I aim to learn more about the diverse histories, cultures, and natural resources of Africa. I’m very interested in the differences that lie in the stories of each region in Africa and how that past has shaped the countries and communities that exist today.

Passion: I love animals, and I have for my whole life. I find myself intrigued by all the amazing things that they can do and the spectacle that is the interconnected web of life. I also have a special place in my heart for African and Malagasy species as the great biodiversity that can be found there is something unlike anywhere else on Earth. Outside of that I love to travel and experience different cultures, foods, and ways of life, both within Africa and around the world.

Five-Year Aspirations: After graduating, it is my wish to attend graduate school and hopefully get a doctorate degree. With that and during my graduate years of studying I hope to be able to conduct my own research on wildlife, their interactions with each other, and their interactions with us humans in Africa and elsewhere across the globe.

Gabriella Udeh

Place of Origin: Orlando, Florida

Major: Biology

Interest in African Studies: Growing up as a Nigerian American, I’ve had so much exposure to not only my culture but that of other African countries. Culture is a truly enriching aspect of life. Having the opportunity to learn about the traditions of various African countries offers a meaningful way for me to broaden my understanding and appreciation of the diverse and beautiful cultures across the continent. Even Nigeria, my own country, has multiple cultures and languages, which reminds me that there is always more to discover and celebrate across Africa.

Passion: I enjoy cooking and learning how to make traditional meals from my country. I spend time singing, dancing (I’ve performed traditional dances for different events), learning more about fashion as fashion is such a great means of expression. I love writing. Poems, stories, you name it! I plan on getting into photography and crocheting. Both have had my interests for a while. Finally, I really love watching movies, different Nollywood films and historical movies to learn about significant events that occurred in Africa.

Five-Year Aspirations: In the next five years, I plan to study abroad in a West African country, participate in community projects, and seek out volunteer opportunities. I aim to improve my communication skills by engaging with students from diverse backgrounds and am also considering a minor in African Studies to deepen my understanding of the continent’s cultures.

Brenna McWhorter Fennessey

Place of Origin: State College, Pennsylvania

Major: PhD in Anthropology, Archaeology specialization, with a doctoral certificate in African Studies.

Interest in African Studies:My interest in African Studies began during my undergraduate career at Penn State while taking an Anthropology course on Hunter-Gatherers with Dr. Kristina Douglass. Since then, my interests have expanded to the archaeology of early pastoral communities in eastern Africa during a period of time called the Pastoral Neolithic (c. 5000-1200 BP). My research addresses stereotypes relating to the long-term effects of pastoral occupation on local landscapes, human-livestock relationships, and adaptive strategies in the face of environmental, economic, or social pressures. Since beginning my graduate career at the University of Florida in 2023, I have spent every summer traveling to various regions in Kenya and Tanzania for archaeological fieldwork and Swahili language programs.

Passion: I am very passionate about my research, learning new languages, and building and maintaining my social connections across the United States and eastern Africa. With my limited free time outside of graduate school, I enjoy reading fiction books from my ever-expanding bookshelf, trying new recipes, spending time with friends, exploring local springs, watching horror movies, and relaxing with my three cats.

Five-Year Aspirations: My goals for the next five years include completing my dissertation fieldwork in Tanzania, finishing my PhD, and applying for positions as either a post-doctoral researcher or assistant professor at a university. I would also like to travel to more African countries, especially those in southern and western Africa.