UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Naaborle Sackeyfio, associate professor of global and intercultural studies at Miami University, sparked lively discussions during her visit to Penn State Nov. 3-5. Her visit was part of a Humanities Institute-funded “Faculty Invite” initiative, co-sponsored by the Lifelong Learning and Adult Education program and supported by the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, the African Studies Program, and the Office of Education and Social Equity.
The collaboration brought Sackeyfio to University Park to explore the intersections of energy, ecological sovereignty and environmental justice, with an emphasis on their implications for education and lifelong learning.
Sackeyfio’s visit featured a series of events designed to engage students, faculty and scholars across disciplines.
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Tuesday, Nov. 4: She visited the globalization and lifelong learning doctoral class for an interactive discussion and later joined a faculty dinner to foster academic collaboration.
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Wednesday, Nov. 5: She met with 21 graduate students for a lunch discussion on her research, followed by a public lecture titled “Energy, Sovereignty, and Environmental Justice in a Global Context: In African Context” at 6 p.m. in Chambers 211. The lecture drew 40 attendees, including faculty members and undergraduate and graduate students.
“Engaging with Penn State’s students and faculty has been an enriching experience,” Sackeyfio said. “The thoughtful questions and diverse perspectives brought new dimensions to discussions on how energy and environmental justice intersect globally.”
The visit was facilitated by José Cossa, professor in charge of the Lifelong Learning and Adult Education program. The events were led by doctoral student Mekdes Abera, with assistance from Kelli Harris and Mphage Mashabella, both doctoral students in adult education.