New Director of African American Studies
Dr. Trafton Hopes to Broaden Awareness
Assistant News Editor Noon Salih

New African American Studies Director Dr. Scott Trafton expressed his enthusiasm for the fall semester and spoke of his vision for the program.

“My hope is to increase enrollment and to increase the visibility of the program across the board,” said Trafton. As the biggest ethnic studies program at George Mason University, the African American Studies program has the longest institutional history on campus.  Trafton said that he hopes to encourage a diverse group of students to enroll in, at the very least, a few of the classes.

As a replacement for the former AFAM director, Dr. Rutledge Dennis, Trafton has been a member of the AFAM faculty since his start at Mason in 1998.  He is also a professor in the English department. “The thing I love about this job is that I’m able to focus all my energy on the program itself,” said Trafton.

One of his main focuses involves spreading the word to Mason students on the variety of courses offered through AFAM. Trafton said that he hopes to change the preconceptions that students may feel about the program being primarily for African Americans. “The content is so rich, the response is going to be an awakening for the students,” said Trafton. “It is always enriching for students once they do take a course.”

The 14 sections offered through the program are cross listed with other courses in different departments. Trafton said that through outreach, he hopes to reach to the diverse Mason student body about a program he feels is “under recognized.” “It has never been primarily a program for black students, especially with a school of predominantly non-black students,” said Trafton. “The work of the program is to open doors between students, departments, and schools of thought.”

In addition to his vision for the program, Trafton acts as a resource for students, offering advice on issues, such as life after college, in what he calls “the most gratifying part of the job.”