Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action

Each academic year, the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) offers microgrants to faculty and staff at Arcadia University who are engaged in projects–inside and/or outside of the academic classroom–that address issues of race, racism, equity, and social justice. In recent years, we have expanded that program–alongside partners in the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring (CLTLM)–to support projects aimed at promoting inclusive excellence and antiracist pedagogy, recognizing that the classroom, as bell hooks declared, is a “radical space of possibility”–a paradise that we must work to achieve. For our inaugural CASAA/CTLM Inclusive Excellence Forum, we are pleased to host Prof. Molly Pooler–adjunct faculty in the Department of Computer Sciences and Mathematics and a CASAA microgrant receipt–and her presentation, “Cultivating Joy and Connection within Foundational STEM Content” via Zoom on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 12:30 PM-1:30 PM ET.

As part of her AY25–26 CASAA microgrant project, Prof. Molly Pooler attended the Global Math Summit in Sardinia, Italy. This was an invitation-only gathering of international leaders who are committed to reimagining mathematics education as “more engaging, accessible, and culturally significant” (Pooler). The Summit therefore emphasized reconnecting mathematics to its deeply humanistic roots while exploring strategies to break down the barriers to participation in STEM, foster inclusive learning environments, and highlight mathematics as a unifying language across cultures and identities. Leading transformation in this space is critical to the work we do here at Arcadia and throughout the education field, for deepening our “understanding[s] of diverse and inclusive approaches to teaching [...], grounded in varied global, racial, and professional perspectives” (Pooler) will enable us to strengthen our approach to inclusive excellence and to ensure that students can thrive in the classroom in unprecedented ways.

For this Inclusive Excellence Forum, Prof. Pooler will both share her experience at the Summit and engage attendees in rigorous yet playful examples of teaching developmental mathematics through exploration, sense-making, and investigation. “This is not about teaching methods,” as Pooler aptly declares. “It’s about highlighting the inherent wonder within mathematical content and helping our students become better thinkers and mathematicians in this changing world.” This Forum will do much more than call attention to the persistent barriers to success in introductory STEM courses; it is an interactive conversation about how inclusive, globally informed approaches to education can transform how students learn. Please join us for this exciting event; it is open to all faculty, staff, students, and the general public.

Last semester, in partnership with the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State in South Africa, CASAA announced the launch of the CASAA Global Conversations Series. This initiative is designed to reshape global discourse on racism and to promote racial justice as well as equity across diverse cultural contexts. Specifically, it aims to connect local realities to global patterns, encouraging comparative insight, critical reflection, and collaborative strategies for change.

The next event in the CASAA Global Conversations Series will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 10:30 AM-11:30 AM ET with a virtual presentation, “You Don’t Choose Your Family: Analyzing the Links Between Incarceration, Gang Membership, and Family Relationships in the Western Cape, South Africa,” with Prof. Marlize Rabe. Prof. Rabe is a family sociologist with a research focus on non-residential fatherhood in South Africa. Her present position is Vice-Dean of Teaching and Learning at the University of the Free State; previously, she was the head of the Department of Sociology at the University of the Western Cape. She is a former vice-president of the South African Sociological Association, and she currently serves as the associate editor of the Journal of Family Studies and as the newsletter editor for the Research Committee of Family Research (RC06) of the International Sociological Association.

Prof. Rabe’s interest in this theme was sparked by her doctoral research on fatherhood among mineworkers in the goldmining industry. Her work has since expanded to examine incarcerated men and their fatherhood journeys. Her presentation will explore how incarceration and gang affiliation intersect with family structures in the Western Cape. By centering the lived realities of fathers and families navigating carceral environments, this talk advances global conversations about inequality, social exclusion, and the resilience of family systems under conditions of structural constraint.

The event will take place on Zoom and all are welcome to attend. We hope to see you there for this important conversation.

For members of the African diaspora at large, Ujima speaks to our collective responsibility to build and maintain our community. As an age old African proverb once declared, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This has been a guiding principle for the Black student body at Arcadia, as seen in part through groups such as the Beaver College Blacks, Melanin in Action, and the Black Awareness Society–a legacy that we would like to celebrate as part of Black History Month this year. In this spirit, UJIMA: Highlighting Arcadia’s Black History is an immersive gallery experience dedicated to exploring the past, present, and future of Black Arcadia. Rooted in the Ujima conviction that true community is built through shared labor and sustained through mutual accountability, this event honors the enduring contributions of Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff who have shaped the intellectual, cultural, and social life of the University.

More than a historical retrospective, UJIMA is a curated space of recognition and reflection. Through archival materials, visual installations, narrative displays, and multimedia features, attendees will encounter the stories, achievements, and transformative leadership that have defined Black presence at Arcadia across generations. The program will also feature keynote remarks, student performances, and opportunities for communal gathering. In this way, UJIMA functions not only as an exhibition but as a living affirmation of Black continuity and collective impact. It is an occasion to acknowledge that legacy, celebrate Black excellence, and recommit to the shared responsibility of sustaining spaces where Black life and culture thrive.

Join us on Friday, February 20, 2026, between 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM ET, as we honor those who have built, maintained, and reimagined Black Arcadia and as we reflect on the work that awaits us ahead. This event is co-sponsored by the Black Awareness Society, the Pan African Studies Program, and CASAA.

Earlier this semester, in partnership with the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State in South Africa, the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) announced the launch of the CASAA Global Conversations Series. This initiative is designed to reshape global discourse on racism and to promote racial justice as well as equity across diverse cultural contexts.

The next event in the CASAA Global Conversations Series will take place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 10:30 AM ET with a virtual presentation, “The School-to-Prison Pipeline,” with Dr. Keisha Robinson. Dr. Robinson is the Director of the Social Action and Justice Education (SAJE) Program and adjunct faculty in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at Arcadia. Her talk will examine the troubling pattern in which disciplinary policies and systemic inequities push students, particularly those from marginalized communities, out of schools and into the criminal justice system. Understanding this issue is critical to addressing broader questions of equity, access, and justice in education. By examining the social, structural, and institutional forces at play, we can begin to imagine pathways that empower rather than punish and that nurture students’ potential instead of limiting their futures.

Please reach out to the CASAA Leadership Team at [email protected] if you need access to the Zoom link for this event.

Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-19) aims to increase understanding of the experiences of the transgender community and the daily challenges they face. This is followed immediately by Transgender Day of Remembrance (Thursday, Nov. 20) to honor the memory of those lost to anti-trans violence and to amplify the voices of those who continue to advocate for change. This year, CITA, CASAA, QTSOC, and Campus Life are proud to host a series of events in recognition of the trans community at Arcadia and beyond, celebrating the life and legacy of Black trans activist and community organizer, Miss Major. All members of the Arcadia community are welcome to attend and participate in these critical events.

Today, for Transgender Day of Remembrance, we hold much-needed space to honor the lives of transgender people lost to violence, discrimination, and systemic injustice. This day is also about amplifying the voices of those fighting for widespread change. Together, we will uplift the memory of those who are no longer with us followed by an open and supportive community discussion about the ongoing challenges facing the trans community, their experiences, and their needs here at Arcadia University and beyond. Join us as we reaffirm our commitment to building a world where trans lives are valued and protected. All students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

CASAA Global Conversations Series: “The Multi-Layered Experience of People Experiencing Homelessness in South Africa”

Earlier this semester, in partnership with the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State in South Africa, the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) announced the launch of the CASAA Global Conversations Series. This initiative is designed to reshape global discourse on racism and to promote racial justice as well as equity across diverse cultural contexts.

The next event in the CASAA Global Conversations Series will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:25 AM ET with a virtual presentation, “Life on the Margins: The Multi-Layered Realities of People Experiencing Homelessness in South Africa,” with Prof. Jean-Paul Pophaim. Prof. Pophaim is a postgraduate supervisor and lecturer in the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State (UFS). He currently teaches the Advanced Victimology postgraduate module to honors and students as well as the undergraduate Penology module for second-year students. Beyond academia, he serves as Assistant Editor for Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology and as Vice-Chairperson of the governing board of Kidz Care Trust, a Bloemfontein-based organisation dedicated to supporting children living and working on the streets, with the goal of family reunification and long-term reintegration.

Prof. Pophaim recently completed his doctoral degree in Criminology, titled: An Analysis and Reframing of South African Policies in Response to Homelessness: Towards an Evidence-Based Victim Inclusive Policy Framework, to be conferred in December. He also has an emerging publication record on matters related to homelessness, victimization, service delivery, and policy implications in a variety of local and international journals and a co-authored chapter in the forthcoming Routledge International Handbook of Criminal Justice and Social Work. His research primarily focuses on vulnerable victim groups, with particular emphasis on people experiencing homelessness. Through his teaching, research, and scholarly engagement, he strives to raise awareness of the daily struggles as well as social injustices faced by these communities while contributing to evidence-based policy reform, improved service delivery, and the promotion of inclusive practices.

The event will take place on Zoom. Please reach out to the CASAA Leadership Team at [email protected] if you need access to the Zoom link for this event.

Co-sponsored by the CASAA Hauntology Lab and the Criminal Justice Society, Haunted Arcadia: Race and Memory will explore how the history of Arcadia University is shaped by race, memory, and the stories that often go untold. It looks at whose histories have been highlighted on campus and whose have been left out or forgotten. By digging into the past, the project reveals how the University’s identity has been shaped by broader patterns of exclusion and remembrance. It asks the Arcadia community to think more deeply about what it means to truly reckon with the past. Join us on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM via Zoom for this informative and thought-provoking event.

This conversation will be led by: Margo Maas, Associate Director, Young Alumni and Student Engagement; Maze Herbst, '26, International Relations, Diplomacy and Law; and Marina Rios, '26, Criminal Justice.

Did you know that the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) at Arcadia University is home to three powerful academic programs, including the new Racism and Antiracism Studies Minor. This Spring 2026 semester, prepare to dive into dynamic, thought-provoking classes that explore how race and racism shape our world as well as how individuals and communities are creating pathways toward justice and equity.

From history to literature to media and policy, these classes invite you to think critically, to act boldly, and to be the spark that changes the world. Check out our Spring 2026 course offerings, and talk with your advisor about adding one to your schedule today.

Did you know that three exciting academic programs—including the Pan African Studies major and minor—are housed in the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) at Arcadia University? Get ready to dive into the rich histories, cultures, and contemporary issues facing Africa and the African diaspora at large with a thrilling array of interdisciplinary classes for the Spring 2026 semester ahead.

Each of these classes will challenge your perspectives, inspire activism, and connect you to a global legacy of resilience, expression, and creativity. Whether you are interested in pursuing a major or minor or simply want to deepen your understanding of the Pan African world, the Pan African Studies Program has a place for you.

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CASAA Announces New Venture, The Hauntology Lab

The Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) is pleased to announce its newest venture at Arcadia University, the creation of The Hauntology Lab–an interdisciplinary research and creative hub dedicated to critically examining ghost stories, haunted spaces, and dark tourism through the lenses of race, gender, and class. “The Hauntology Lab will help us to think critically about the stories we tell, the histories we silence, and the voices that we need to uplift,” Dr. Favian Martin, CASAA’s Director of Community and Student Engagement. “It is a vital opportunity to lead in developing innovative antiracist scholarship that connects the past to the present.”

The Hauntology Lab will interrogate how narratives of haunting are constructed, circulated, and commodified and how these narratives have often and continue to reproduce or obscure systemic inequalities across the globe. By combining scholarly research, creative storytelling, and public engagement, the Lab will expose the ways that racism, sexism, classism, colonialism, and more haunt public memory and cultural landscapes. The mission of The Hauntology Lab is to reveal the hidden histories and sociopolitical dimensions embedded in ghost stories and sites of dark tourism. Members will:
1. Research and deconstruct popular and regional ghost stories, haunted locations, and dark tourism narratives in order to uncover their oppressive undercurrents and historical inaccuracies.
2. Collaborate across disciplines by bringing together faculty, staff, and students for critical analyses, curated content, and shared findings.
3. Engage the public through a digital repository/database featuring ghost stories and dark tourism sites enriched with historical context, commentary, and multimedia resources.
4. Create outputs such as scholarly articles, public talks, podcasts, digital storytelling, and immersive media projects to reach both academic and community audiences.

Through this work, The Hauntology Lab seeks to expand upon the mission of CASAA and serve as a model for community-engaged scholarship that confronts the spectral legacies of violence and inequality. It will provide students with hands-on research opportunities, foster innovative faculty-student collaborations, and support CASAA’s mission by amplifying marginalized voices.

The Hauntology Lab will draw on the interdisciplinary expertise of faculty and staff including Dr. Favian Martin, the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program; Dr. Tom Berendt, the Department of Historical and Political Studies; Margo Maas, Young Alumni and Student Engagement; Rhianon Visinsky, the Department of English; and Allyson McCreery, the International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program. External collaborators include Dr. Kevin Revier, SUNY Cortland; and Joe Wojie, Grim Philly. This year’s student cohort includes Marina Rios, ‘26; Maze Heberst, ‘26; Jacob Spina, ‘26; and Sara “Pup” Graham-Byrd, ‘28.

The Hauntology Lab is the first of a number of interdisciplinary labs that the Leadership Team of the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action plans to launch over the next year.

For information about CASAA and the initiatives/projects underway, visit us today at www.arcadia.edu/CASAA.