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EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Receives the Frances B. Huston Medallion Award

05/19/2022 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson! Christina has been selected to receive a 2022 Frances B. Huston Medallion Award.

Recipients of the Frances B. Huston medallion award must have established themselves as exceptionally capable individuals in both academic and extracurricular activities. The faculty and the administration of Eastern Washington University acknowledge their great pride in the accomplishments of these students during their college experience and expect even greater accomplishments in the years that lie ahead. The Frances B. Huston Medallion is presented to just 20 graduating students per year.

Christina is a first-generation university student double majoring in English studies and Africana studies, and minoring in religious studies. She currently holds a 3.98 GPA. Christina completed an EWU McNair Summer Research Internship in 2021 under the mentorship of Associate Professor Okera Nsombi titled The Characterization of African Religions. She recently presented this research at the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates 2022 Virtual Conference, held online. Christina serves as the ASEWU Diversity Representative. Based on her work in this role, her outstanding academic record, and her regular contributions to organizations such as BlackPast.org, Christina was invited to participate in building a curriculum for next year’s required staff trainings in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion under Senate Bill 5227.

Christina will begin her PhD studies in Africology and African American Studies at Temple University next fall. Read about all of Christina’s accomplishments as a McNair Scholar here.

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Presents at National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates 2022 Conference

04/28/2022 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

In February, EWU McNair scholar Christina Hudson presented at the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates 2022 Virtual Conference, held online. She presented her 2021 Summer Research Internship project The Characterization of African Religion. For this project, Christina was mentored by Dr. Okera Nsombi. Christina is double majoring in English studies and Africana studies, and minoring in religious studies. She also serves as the ASEWU Diversity Representative.

When asked about the most valuable aspects of attending and presenting at this conference, Christina said she had the opportunity to make some awesome connections.

It was so great to meet and connect with so many amazing scholars and professors from different universities.

Christina would like to let other McNair scholars know that presenting at conferences is a great opportunity to talk about your research and to make important connections. While the idea of presenting at a conference may seem intimidating, “it can be a really fun experience filled with amazing scholars who are just as excited to hear about your research as you are to talk about it.”

Christina will begin her PhD studies in Africology and African American studies at Temple University next fall.

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson: ASEWU Diversity Representative

04/07/2022 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson is serving as the Associated Students of EWU Diversity Outreach Representative for the 2021-2022 academic year. In this position, Christina helps to create a culture of inclusivity and community at EWU. Based on her work in this role, her outstanding academic record, and her regular contributions to organizations such as BlackPast.org, Christina was asked to participate in building a curriculum for next year’s required staff trainings in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Senate Bill 5227 aims to eliminate structural racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by conducting training sessions and evaluations in Washington’s 40 public colleges and universities, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.

In addition to this important work, Christina was invited to be a featured speaker at the EWU Diversity and Inclusion Week Event Speed Relating. At this event, fueled by free Thomas Hammer coffee, students, faculty, and staff can connect and have open conversations with a variety of individuals representing diverse identities, professions, and/or interests. Christina introduces herself in this statement from the Speed Relating Speakers Directory:

I am an AfroMexicana first-generation student and McNair scholar, double majoring in English studies and Africana studies, and minoring in religious studies. My academic journey has been very nontraditional. I grew up between Barrio Logan in San Diego, CA, and west side Long Beach, CA. I had my first job at fourteen years old and, because I had to live on my own and work support myself from fifteen years old, I dropped out of high school at the beginning of ninth grade. I began college many years later with neither a high school diploma nor a GED. After graduating with two bachelor’s degrees this spring, I will begin my PhD studies in Africology and African American studies at Temple University.

Christina completed her McNair Summer Research Internship project, The Characterization of African Religions, mentored by Dr. Okera Nsombi.

To hear more about Christina’s experiences in higher education, Africana studies, and the McNair Scholars Program, connect with her over free coffee at the Speed Relating event on Wednesday, April 20, 11am to 1pm, in the JFK Library Lobby.

McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Participates in Presidential Search

02/03/2022 by Jaeger, Corinne 1 Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson was nominated to participate in the presidential search committee by former McNair Director Doctora Christina Torres García. The committee was comprised of faculty, staff, Board of Trustee members, and just a few students. As we chatted about her experience she exclaimed that it was really fun and she learned a lot. Looking at the candidates' Curriculum Vitae and portfolios was useful as Christina generated her own CV as she applied to graduate school as well as for thinking ahead to her future career as a faculty herself as to all the work and organizations that she could get involved with.

Ultimately the decision for the president rests with the Board of Trustees, but Christina felt that they did genuinely value the committee's input and listened to what all the different parties wanted out of a president. Christina participated in multiple interviews of candidates and worked with the committee as they whittled down the list to just 6 recommended candidates to the board. While committee members did not generate the questions, they did participate in asking them. Once the set questions for each candidate were asked, they also had the opportunity to ask their own.

Christina's choice for president is Monroe Gordon. "He clearly has a focus on the fact that everyone at the university is here for the students. And of course, we need adequate funding for the school to function for students and Gordon has strong experience both student affairs and business." She went on to talk about how she appreciated that he was charismatic and that his ability to engage with students as well as his view on diversity was excellent.

Christina was happy she had the opportunity to participate in this experience as she knows as a future faculty at a university she'll be dealing with more than just research and teaching, but also being a part of committees and other inner workings of a university. In the fall Christina applied for 8 graduate programs, primarily in Africana Studies. She is interested in decolonizing religious studies with a focus on ancient African religious texts, with the intention of shifting the way we view the contributions of people of color to the development of civilization throughout history. For her McNair Summer Research Internship she reviewed recent academic journals relating to religion to see how African religions were portrayed, if at all, culminating in her poster presentation and final paper, The Characterization of African Religion. Christina was selected to present her research at two different conferences and will be presenting at the National Association of Africana Studies and Associations Conference in two weeks. Needless to say, here at McNair, we have no doubt that Christina will not only get accepted into a graduate program, but that she will go on to be an amazing faculty and leader.

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Completes Summer Research Internship

11/23/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson worked with Dr. Okera Nsombi on her Summer Research Internship project The Characterization of African Religions. Christina’s aim was to investigate how Western academia’s proximity to Eurocentric hegemonies influences religious studies. Her literature review went on to survey the work of scholars who have engaged in the examination of Eurocentrism as it pertains to the study of African religions.

Christina analyzed 129 articles taken from 10 of the top 20 peer reviewed religious studies journals from 2020. She first inspected the articles for instances of the terms Africa, African, African-American, Hoodoo, and Conjure. She found that Indigenous African and African diaspora religious traditions, such as Hoodoo and Conjure, were not mentioned in any of the 129 articles.

Before beginning the study, Christina proposed:

Observing these gaps [in inclusion of Indigenous African and African diaspora religious traditions in peer reviewed religious studies journals] would highlight the ways in which the current survey of world religions within higher education can be expanded. Doing so may allow for a more accurate depiction of the contributions of African cultures to world religions. This will also help to reshape education in such a way that better tells the story of human development, cultural exchange, and interconnectedness.

Christina is interested in decolonizing religious studies with a focus on ancient African religious texts, with the intention of shifting the way we view the contributions of people of color to the development of civilization throughout history.

Christina will be presenting at the 43rd Annual Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February 2022. She is a regular contributor to BlackPast.org and the recipient of the Robert and Joan Morgan Nelson Scholarship, which benefits a History or Humanities Major at EWU. Christina is currently applying to graduate programs at several schools. We have no doubts that Christina will succeed in graduate school and generate essential academic work that expands the field of religious studies.

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Awarded Robert and Joan Morgan Nelson Scholarship

10/06/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson! Christina has been awarded the Robert and Joan Morgan Nelson Scholarship. The scholarship benefits a History or Humanities Major at EWU.

Christina is double majoring in English Studies and Africana Studies, with a minor in Religious Studies. Christina researched The Characterization of African Religion with Dr. Okera Nsombi for her summer internship. Her work is focused on decolonizing Religious Studies by centering ancient African religious texts, with the intention of shifting the way we view the contributions of people of color to the development of civilization throughout history.