Emmanuel Asiedu-Acquah

Emmanuel Asiedu-Acquah is a professor in the International and Global Studies program here at Sewanee. Originally from Ghana, Asiedu-Acquah always had a keen interest in current events. Gaining an associate's degree in journalism in his home country, Asiedu-Acquah was able to engage with international political figures on a professional level. 

His love for journalism soon shifted to academia, and after earning a PH.D. in History from Harvard, Asiedu-Acquah came to Sewanee. 

“In my classroom, I embody diversity of geographic origin,” Asiedu-Acquah says. “I am part of the other. So as a teacher, I want to make others comfortable. I teach courses related to Africa, and this is new to many of my students.”

Asiedu-Acquah knows that diversity is a type of campus culture that is primarily demonstrated by faculty. Faculty create environments of awareness, sensitivity, and belonging. When students see someone who shares and represents their own minority status, they are more confident in expressing themselves.

“The whole point of a liberal arts education is to open you up to the world,” Asiedu-Acquah says. “And the world is a diverse place. That process—getting to know the world, questioning your own prejudice—can greatly be helped by having faculty mentors, who are themselves in that same process of learning, share their experience. You have a mentor on your side to help navigate life.”