AFA alumni have gone on to do great things in the broader Kentucky community. If you are interested in pursuing an AFA minor or certificate, consider these stories from former students in the AFA program.

Ashley Williams

When did you graduate from EKU? 
2013

Where are you now, and what do you do for a living? 
Assistant Online Coordinator/ Enrollment Advisor for EKU Online

Has your AFA minor or certificate affected your life post-graduation? How has it affected your employment and/or worldview? 
Yes, it has broadened my horizons. I also credit my minor to developing my critical thinking skills in situations that call for cultural sensitivity or educational moments.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in the AFA program, either in the classroom or out of it? 
The most valuable lesson learned was correlated to the importance of knowing heritage and to work diligently to understand cultural differences.  

Silas Burris

When did you graduate from EKU?
May 2011

Where are you now, and what do you do for a living?
I am a fifth year doctoral student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. I am working on a PhD in Developmental/Experimental Psychology with an emphasis on cognition and learning. During the school year I am employed as a graduate teaching assistant for the Cognition and Learning courses, and over this past summer I taught the undergraduate summer Cognition course.

Has your AFA minor or certificate affected your life post-graduation? How has it affected your employment and/or worldview?
I would have to say that my AFA minor has greatly affected my life post-graduation. The coursework I completed, and the many experiences I gained as an AFA minor have afforded me a much richer and more informed perspective about the world I live in today. These experiences were particularly important to improving my understanding of how complex the history of the United States is, and how many of our current issues are a reflection of an unresolved past. Although I have always been interested in issues of social justice, I know my experience with AFA helped to refine my perspective and inspired me to pursue a career that allows me to continue being a part of the discussion of race, justice, and social change.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in the AFA program, either in the classroom or out of it?
The most valuable lesson I learned while involved with AFA would have to be that: Every person in this world has a unique perspective and story. It may not always match our own, but it is still a human experience deserving recognition and respect. If we choose to ignore another’s experience because it is different, we fail to understand and care for ourselves as a human people. When we elect to listen and have intentional dialogue on perceived differences, we are able to heal and improve our humanity.