AAAD Internships

My name is TaLisha Hairston. I am a Junior Psychology Major, AAAD minor. I am also one of the AAAD interns. My hometown is Williamsburg, VA. And I am also a first generation college student, so what I am looking forward to is to continue to make the most out of every positive and challenging moment that presents itself to me here.

My name is Qyaira (Key-AIR-Uh) Colbert and I was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA. Although I am from Lynchburg, I permanently live about 30 minutes away from Longwood University in Farmville, VA. I am a fourth-year Sociology Major with a minor in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies. I am one of the AAAD interns and I am also the president of a new organization at JMU named Creative Passions Coalition. While being an intern for the AAAD minor and president of Creative Passions Coalition, I am also a Resident Advisor for JMU. After I graduate, I plan on working with children in urban areas

My name is Spencer Law, and I am a senior Media Arts & Design and History double major with minors in Honors and African, African American, and Diaspora Studies. My research focuses on local history in Harrisonburg, racial integration in Virginia schools, and queer activism. Outside of AAAD, Spencer works for the department of Career & Academic Planning as a graphic designer. I also work as a research assistant for the Celebrating Simms project. In the future, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in history. My goal is to use my background in interaction design and public history to make the stories of minority groups more accessible to the public. I spend my free time reading poetry, playing guitar, and listening to public radio.

My name is Kofi Karikari and as an AAAD intern, I have been given the opportunity to develop my skills as a designer, by creating promotional materials for the AAAD program. I believe what I create will further grow the AAAD community.

My name is Lillie Jacob, and I’m a Senior English Major with minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS), African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD), History, and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. I serve as Research Assistant to Dr. Besi Brillian Muhonja, where I work on scholarship that relates to both WGSS and AAAD. My research interests include contemporary queer and Black literature, and how those two fields increasingly intersect with each other and themes of disidentification and temporality. Outside of being a research assistant, I intern with JMU Special Collections and am a teaching assistant for Black Studies, Black Spaces, as well as Hacking for Diplomacy. After graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in either English or Cultural Studies, and go on to teach at the university level.