The Liberian Studies Association is a non-profit, scholarly organization that provides a means for effective cooperation among persons interested in furthering research in all scholarly disciplines on topics relevant to the Republic of Liberia.

“To the question why study Liberia, or why a forum devoted to the study of Liberia, the answer inevitably is two-fold: one, to serve the end of disinterested pursuit and advancement of knowledge, and two, to serve the end of development of the nation and people of Liberia.”
- D. Elwood Dunn

LSA 55th Annual Conference Schedule

Friday, April 19th, 2024 Schedule B25 Warren Hall, Cornell University

Session I: Revisiting the Historiography of the Liberian State: Roundtable Discussion

9:30am-10:45am

Caree A. Banton, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Arkansas

Jacien G. Carr, PhD, Assistant Director, The Ohio State University Office of International Affairs Center for African Studies (CAS)

Cassandra Mark-Thiesen, PhD, Junior Research Group Leader “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth

Herbert Brewer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of History and Geography, Morgan State University
Session II: Democracy, Security, Regionalism, and Corruption

10:45am-12:00noon
The State and Political Corruption in Liberia: A Political Economy George K. Kieh, Jr., Ph.D, former Dean, Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and Professor, Political Science, Texas Southern University
Security without the State? The Security Impact of State and Nonstate Actors in Liberia Dr. Felix Gerdes, Professor, Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation (KAICT), University of Liberia
“Liberia’s Role in West African Regionalism Alexander Shipilov, PhD candidate, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences, RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
“In The Name of Democracy: Popular Disillusionment and The Resurgence of Coups in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Lois Matthew, Graduate Student, Department of Government, Cornell University
Session III: Democracy and “Disruption:” Liberian History, Archives, and Heritage Revisited

12:00noon-1:00pm

Reclaiming Fragments of the Liberian Everyday: A Report on the Digitization of the
ELTV Archive
Cassandra Mark-Thiesen, Junior Research Group Leader, “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth

Gaps, Silences, and Untold Stories: (Re)Visiting the History of Women in Liberian
Broadcast Media Archives
Edidiong Ibanga, doctoral candidate, “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth

Symbiotic Initiatives (?): Exploring the Interconnected Evolution of (Heritage) Tourism and National Cultural Heritage in Liberia since the 1960s
Luisa Schneider, doctoral candidate, “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth
Luncheon and Luncheon Speaker

Re-building the AFL in Post-conflict Liberia

Colonel (Ret) Chris Wyatt
Former Chief, Office of Security Cooperation Liberia
Session IV: Education and Technology

2:15pm- 3:15pm,

Charting the Digital Evolution in Higher Education of the Liberian State: Transitions, Transformations, and Prospects
Rosemarie T. Santos, Associate VP-Research, Cuttington University
Romelle Horton, President, Cuttington University, Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia

STEAM Education as a Catalyst for Empowerment and Sustainable Development of Liberia
Blidi Stemn, PhD. Associate Professor and Chair, Childhood Education & Literacy Dept. School of Education, SUNY Old Westbury

The Effect of Teacher Training on Students’ Academic Achievement: The Liberian Situation
Michael Adolu Wannah, PhD. Associate Professor of Education, Chicago State University
Session V: Traditional and Cultural Institutions, and Liberian Heritage

3:15pm-4:30PM

The Evolution of Poro in the Liberian State in the Twenty-First Century
Jacien G. Carr, Assistant Director, The Ohio State University Office of International Affairs Center for African Studies (CAS)

A Digital Future for Indigenous Scripts
Charles L. Riley, Catalog Librarian for African Languages, Yale University,
Tim Slager, Christian Education Foundation of Liberia

Islam among the Vais in Grand Cape Mount and the Impact of Foday Vanyuma Nyei's Teachings"
Mohamed B. Nyei, PhD, Assistant Professor, LaGuardia Community College
“Pirates and Copyright: Liberian Popular Music Production and Performance in Monrovia, 1970-1990 Timothy Nevin, PhD, Old Dominion University (formerly of Cuttington University)

Legend Studies: Environmental, Health, Climate Change, and Anthropology with a Central Focus on Dyuòɛ̀kadyù: The Legend of the Bassa
Syrulwa Somah, PhD, Professor & Associate Director Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Health Science, School of Environmental Engineering, Benedict College
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The Liberian Studies Conference 55th annual conference seeks to provide a platform for stakeholders from academia, government, civil society, and the private sector to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaboratively design strategies for sustainable progress in Africa in general and in Liberia specifically. The conference will focus on envisioning the future and the imperative of nurturing sustainable progress in Liberia. Liberia is poised at the juncture where strategic foresight and long-term vision are crucial for shaping inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development trajectories. By exploring the sub-themes of innovation, governance, and social transformation, this conference seeks to foster meaningful dialogues and generate actionable practices to advance nation building.

Presenters will delve into the potential of disruptive technologies, renewable energy solutions, and climate challenges (innovation); examine governance models that prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, thereby strengthening institutions, promoting anti-corruption measures, and ensuring participatory decision-making processes (governance); and, will explore strategies for addressing socio-economic inequalities, promoting gender equality, empowering marginalized communities, and highlighting the significance of preserving cultural heritage, promoting cultural diversity, and leveraging the arts as catalysts for social cohesion and sustainable development (social transformation).