Christina Hudson

Christina Hudson SQUARE

Christina M. Hudson is a first-generation student who graduated from Eastern Washington University with a double major in English Studies and Africana Studies, and a minor in Religious Studies. She earned her associate degree at Spokane Falls Community College, before transferring to EWU in 2020. She is interested in decolonizing religious studies, focusing 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. She wants to bring the contributions of these ancient civilizations to the forefront of religious studies. Her 2021 research, under the mentorship of Dr. Okera Nsombi, investigated how the orientation of Western academia to Eurocentric hegemonies and Western epistemologies effects the scholar’s duty to inquire, reevaluate, and reveal facts and aimed to illuminate the possible African influence on the major world religions and Greek philosophy. She completed a literature review as well as a content review of top peer-reviewed religious studies journals on how often and in what way they mentioned: Africa, African, African American, Hoodoo, and Conjure. She presented her research at the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates 2022 Virtual Conference.

Christina was accepted to Temple University’s PhD Program in Africology and African American Studies where she began attending Fall 2022. She was selected to serve as an Engagement Specialist for Resident Life at Temple University, and, in her first quarter secured additional assistantship funding.


2021 EWU Faculty Research Mentors: Dr. Okera Nsombi

Research Title: The Characterization of African Religion

Presentation Poster

Abstract: “Knowledge is power” is a well-known saying but what gets overlooked in that statement is which kind of knowledge it is that is powerful and for whom it is powerful. It is not uncommon for both critics of colonialism and apologists alike to acknowledge that colonialism has interfered with the natural course of both the African people and terrain. While it is not a novel take to lambaste colonialism for its eroding effects on African development, what is often overlooked is how colonialism has distorted the worldview of African history, especially as it relates to ancient cultural exchange and Africa’s role in shaping philosophy and religion. One of the major features of colonialism has been to relentlessly portray Africa in a dismissive light and to characterize it as lacking intellectualism, philosophy, civilization, or any real contribution to human development. This study aims to investigate how the orientation of Western academia, and those educated within its institutions, to Eurocentric hegemonies and Western epistemologies effects the scholar’s duty to inquire, reevaluate, and reveal facts. It also attempts to illuminate the possible African influence on the major world religions and Greek philosophy. The literature review examines the conversations being initiated by scholars who are investigating religious and philosophical history from perspectives outside of the European triumphalism perspective, and the content review evaluates whether this conversation is reflected across Western intellectual spaces by looking at 10 of the top peer-reviewed religious studies journals published in 2020. The aim is to investigate Africa’s role in world development and to challenge the distortion of Africa’s identity and legacy, which is prevalent within Western intellectual spaces and academia.


McNair Alum Illuminate the Graduate School Experience

What a joy to see the faces of 6 former EWU McNair Scholars all on the same screen this summer! As a part of the culminating weeks of our intensive McNair Summer Research Internship that includes daily graduate school application and preparation seminars, these brilliant alumni joined us to share their insights and experiences as … Read more
13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works Symposium

13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works Symposium

On May 11, EWU held the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Symposium. The Symposium has been held virtually for the last two years, and being back in person allowed for a different level of engagement as scholars discussed their research (both proposed and completed) with fellow students, faculty, and the EWU community. Many scholars … Read more
Christina Hudson selected for the Jeffers Chertok Dean’s Honor Award

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Selected for the Jeffers Chertok Dean’s Honor Award

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson! Christina has been selected for the Jeffers Chertok Dean’s Honor Award. The Jeffers Chertok Dean’s Honor Award recognizes exceptional graduates who have demonstrated a commitment to their education through outstanding academic achievement with a minimum of a 3.75 GPA in their previous 4 quarters and through leadership and … Read more
EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Receives the Frances B. Huston Medallion Award

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

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 … Read more
EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Accepted to Temple University PhD Program

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Accepted to Temple University PhD Program

If you’ve been following along, you may have noticed that in our last two posts about EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson, we mentioned that she will begin her PhD studies in Africology and African American Studies at Temple University next fall. We’d like to take this opportunity to officially offer her our congratulations! The Department … Read more
Article for Christina Hudson

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

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, … Read more
EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson: ASEWU Diversity Outreach Representative

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson: ASEWU Diversity Representative

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 … Read more

McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Participates in Presidential Search

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 … Read more
Christina Hudson worked with Dr. Okera Nsombi 

EWU McNair Scholar Christina Hudson Completes Summer Research Internship

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 … Read more
12 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2021 CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium

12 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

In June 2021, EWU held the CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium. This online event offered a chance for McNair scholars to present their research, as well as attend the Social Justice in Research Panel of EWU McNair alumni now working in academics and education.  The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement … Read more