Rose Appoints Dr. David Owusu-Ansah to Diversity Position

From: Public Affairs

Effective July 1, 2007, Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, Professor of African Studies in the Department of History, will assume additional responsibilities. Dr.Owusu-Ansah's additional responsibilities will focus on the faculty aspect of the university's diversity effort.

In addition to his instruction and research, Dr. Owusu-Ansah's primary responsibilities will include:
* working with the academic diversity councils;
* working on faculty recruitment and retention;
* working closely with Dr. Oris Griffin regarding the professor in residence program;
* collaborating with Mr. Arthur T. Dean II, newly appointed Special
Assistant for Diversity in the President's Office, on many of the university's diversity initiatives.

Dr. Owusu-Ansah will also develop and implement new initiatives that support James Madison University's commitment to diversity.

Dr. Owusu-Ansah received his doctoral degree from Northwestern University. He also holds a master's degree in Islamic Studies from McGill University, and an honors bachelor degree in Comparative Religions from the University of Cape Coast (Ghana).

A former fellow of the Harry S. Truman Institute for International Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Owusu-Ansah teaches courses in African history, world history and historical methods. His research interests are on topics of Islam in Africa with special emphasis on religious conversion and the politics of religion.