Freedom Center President to Teach New Course at UC

Clarence G. Newsome, president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC), will be teaching a course in the Department of Africana Studies during Spring Semester 2015. This new course is part of a growing collaborative relationship between the Department of Africana Studies, McMicken College, the University of Cincinnati and the NURFC.

According to UC President Santa Ono, “It’s exciting that our students will have an opportunity to learn from a former university president like CG Newsome. Our city is fortunate that he is part of our community, and I am thrilled that he will be teaching a course at UC.”

The course, titled The Black Church in America, is open to all UC students as well as to the external community. This course may be of interest to academic clergy and other church leaders, community activists and anyone interested in the historic role of the black church in race relations and leadership. The course will also discuss how the vital role of the black church can be mobilized and regenerated for addressing moral and ethical solutions for today’s social issues and concerns.

"With his previous leadership in higher education and his current role as president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Dr. Newsome will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. Dr. Newsome will be a great addition to the Bearcat family," said Provost Beverly Davenport.

Newsome was named president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in August 2013. He currently serves as a member of the Duke University Board of Trustees. He is past president of Shaw University, and he previously served as dean of the School of Divinity at Howard University and as a member of the Duke Divinity School faculty. He has also served on several major committees of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and is a member and past president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, a nationwide think tank of scholars engaged in studying the religious experience of African Americans.

UC's Ken Ghee, associate professor and head of the department, explained, “As Head of the Department of Africana Studies, I am excited to have Dr. Clarence Newsome join our faculty as an adjunct teaching professor. His expertise in the fields of history and religion fits very well into the Africana Studies scholar/activist tradition. In addition, this course is very timely for addressing the socio-political concerns of society in general, and more specifically, the dual roles of the black church in leadership and service to the African American community, yesterday and today. Further, Dr. Newsome’s leadership with the Underground Railroad Freedom Center will also serve to create additional collaborative linkages with the College of Arts and Science and the university at large.”

The course, AFST 3080, will be taught Spring Semester 2015, Tuesdays from 6pm – 8:50 p.m. in Rieveschl, Room 422B. Registration is currently open. For more information, contact

Kenneth Ghee

at McMicken College’s  Department of Africana Studies. Community members (non-UC students) interested in signing up for the class should fill out

this form

. UC will contact you to arrange payment.

The Black Church in America:  A Course Summary:

This course is designed to look at the development of black churches in America. We will critically assess the impact of economic, social and political forces that resulted in the development of churches and charismatic leaders that have helped shape race relations in America.