Black Internationalism Career Corner Talks

The Center for African Studies at Howard University presents our Black Internationalism Career Corner Talks. The first event of the series in 2021 focused on How to pursue Africa-related careers and utilize your African language skills. The following talks will bring in alumni from Howard and HBCUs, as well as members of the African Diaspora to share their experiences working in international public, private, and nonprofit industries and information on programs that interest our students, alumni, and HBCU community.

• Are you interested in studying or working abroad in Africa?
• Do you have a background in, or are you interested in learning about world (“foreign”) languages, especially African languages?
• Are you interested in a career path that will allow you to work on international issues or with an international community?
• Are you interested in learning about experiences in international affairs from Howard University alumni and professionals working in the international public, private, or nonprofit sectors?

Our “Career Corner Talks” will virtually convene members of the U.S. Foreign Service, international and foreign policy experts, researchers, nonprofit practitioners, members of multilateral organizations, and many more! 

This event of the series: Black Internationalism Career Corner Talks was on private sector careers in Africa on Monday, March 28, 2022 with guest speaker, Michael Sudarkasa, CEO of the Africa Business Group.

Co-sponsored by the Center for African Studies, the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center and the Center for Financial Excellence at Howard University.

Guest Speaker:

Recommended Readings:

• https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2020/12/04/how-to-transition-from-university-into-the-african-job-market-student-skills/
• https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad/work-in-africa
• https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/africa
• https://www.gooverseas.com/internships-abroad/africa
• https://www.globalexperiences.com/internships/summer-2021
• https://ihraam.org/situations/african-americans/

During this event of the series: Black Internationalism Career Corner Talks, Dr. Yolonda Kerney, Diplomat in Residence, spoke on how to pursue Africa-related careers and utilize your African language skills on March 18, 2021.

Dr. Yolonda Kerney joined the United States diplomatic corps as a Foreign Service Officer in 2004. She served as Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Mission to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica; Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Cameroon, and Economic Officer and Chief Consul at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Guinea.  She is the recipient of several Department of State Meritorious Honor and Superior Honor awards, and the Lois Roth Award for Excellence in Cultural Diplomacy. Dr. Kerney is a proud alumna of Howard University from which she earned undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in music history and literature, and religious studies.  Before joining the Foreign Service she served as a music historian at the United States Library of Congress.