Andrea Y. Adomako

Andrea Y. Adomako

E-mail: adomako.andrea@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in African American Studies (Present)
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Master of Arts in American Studies (May 2017)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (May 2017)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies and Human Rights (May 2015)
Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY

Relevant Courses: Race, Ethnicity & Inequality, Black Sexualities, Feminist Theory, Postcolonial and Globalization Studies, Introduction to Afrolatinidad, Young Adult Literature, James Baldwin and the Global Freedom Struggle, Social Movements

RESEARCH & TEACHING INTERESTS
• Black Childhood and Black Children’s Literature
• Black Feminism and Girlhood studies
• Transnational Black Social Movements and Resistance
• Africana Diasporic Political Thought

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Mellon Mays Fellowship Project (2015)
Faculty Advisor: Yvette Christianseë
• Investigated the impact of Post Colonial Ghanaian children’s literature on the current educational system in Ghana
• Examined both the relationships between illiteracy and poverty on the one hand, and literacy and economic prosperity on the other to demonstrate how literacy underpins development in all sectors of society and how it is crucial to the economic prosperity of a country
• Used a theoretical analysis of literature and concludes that cultivating a taste for reading is essential, but in an African context the cultural element behind what is being read by children is crucial to the project of nation building and citizenship
• Funded by the Mellon Mays Foundation for Undergraduate Fellows

Summer Intern, Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (2014)
• Engaged in a graduate-level curriculum of critical, cultural and educational theory for five weeks
• Facilitated graduate-level discussions by collaborating with faculty to create and implement lesson plans
• Participated in critical reading, writing, and thinking workshops

The Second Amendment: A Biography (2013)
Author: Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice
Published: May 2014, Simon & Schuster
Book examines the second amendment to the constitution and the way the original context of the second amendment has been discarded for modern interpretations.
• Provided aid in research and data collection using journals, books, and news sources
• Fact-checked sections of book during drafting process
• Proofread and edited numerous drafts of chapters
• Assisted in cultivating a bibliography of law reviews

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, American Studies 201: Interpreting America (Spring 2017)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Prepared lectures outlines and plans for 18 undergraduates that focused on the analysis of reading materials centered around interdisciplinary exploration into the ways the past, present, and future of the United States has and will shape what it has meant and will mean to be American
• Assisted faculty member with classroom instruction, record keeping, and attendance
• Graded course assessments and provided feedback to ensure students understood material and stayed on track

Teaching Assistant, American Studies 101: America and the World (Fall 2016)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Prepared lectures and class activities, for 10-15 undergraduates, that focused on the analysis of reading materials centered around how migrants, immigrants and people who call themselves American, see the world
• Created and graded course assessments to ensure students understood material and stayed on track

Teaching Fellow, Practice Makes Perfect (Summer 2016)
The Young Women’s Leadership School, Bronx, New York
• Instructed 40 students for over 200 hours over the course of six weeks in collaboration with a New York State certified teacher
• Developed daily lesson plans for 6th and 7th grade scholars in reading and writing
• Assessed progress through quizzes aimed at eliminating summer learning loss and enriching the areas of reading and writing
• Utilized a variety of methods and activities to accommodate scholar learning styles

Youth Worker, New York City Mission Society (Spring 2015)
P.S 175, New York, NY
• Established a comfortable learning environment and implemented clear, consistent age-appropriate expectations and rules for second graders
• Assisted the group leader with preparing lesson plan curriculum, materials, and hand-outs
• Developed and completed weekly lesson plans
• Participated in two professional development workshops

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Adomako, A. (2017). “Constructing the Graduate Student Teacher-Activist: Pedagogies, Research, and Institutional Climate.” American Studies Association (ASA) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
Adomako, A. (2017). “Black Children’s Activism.” Society for the History of Children and Youth Ninth Biennial Conference (SHCY) Annual Conference, Camden, NJ
Adomako, A. (2016). “Childhood Traumas: The Legacy of Slavery in Girlhood Constructions.” National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, CA
Adomako, A. (2016). “Post-Colonial Ghanaian Children’s Literature: Narratives and the Nation, A Pedagogical Approach” College Language Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX

WORK EXPERIENCE
Night Manager, Black Cultural Center (Fall 2015- Spring 2017)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Responsible for general clerical tasks including but not limited to greeting visitors and closing the building
• Conducted both student and public tours
• Assisted in preparing and setting up for special events and workshops

Proctor, IDP Proctor Services (Fall 2015- Spring 2017)
West Lafayette, IN
• Assisted in the administration of course exams
• Monitored and document cheating or dishonesty

Mentor, Barnard Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (Summer 2016)
New York, New York
• Helped set academic research goals and provided guidance throughout the project of one Barnard mentee
• Encouraged students with a demonstrated commitment to racial diversity to pursue academic careers.
• Participated in discussions concerning the graduate school application process, advising, program choice, and other areas concerning graduate school

Instructional Management Specials Intern (Spring 2015)
Success Academy Charter Schools New York, New York
• Researched summer camp partnership and initiatives
• Partnered with Instructional Management staff to support classroom and event organization and administration
• Worked to ensure that communications were thoroughly established and distributed to all possible stakeholders for a variety of events and programs within the department
• Supported the organization and execution of tournaments and games for sports, debate, chess and the arts
• Partnered with instructional leadership to develop and execute projects impacting multiple schools and thousands of scholars

Paralegal Intern, Children’s Rights (Fall 2013)
New York, New York
• Reviewed primary and secondary child welfare sources, including case-specific documentation from
child welfare agencies child welfare
• Prepared memoranda on specific foster care or case-related issues
• Participated in research and data analysis

Assistant to The Office of the President (Spring 2013-Fall 2013)
Brennan Center for Justice, New York, New York
• Drafted research memos
• Provided assistance with events and board meetings
• Assisted with the President’s special policy and book writing project

Resident Assistant, Barnard College (Fall 2012- Fall 2014)
New York, New York
• Assessed and responded to the needs of 46 residents
• Created, planned, and implemented educational, social, and recreational programs
• Acted as a liaison between residents and Department of Residence Life
• Counseled peers on personal, academic, and career concerns
• Managed various administrative duties including maintenance requests, incident reports, and room transfers
• Enforced and upheld university policies

AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND GRANTS
• Promise Award for International Research, Purdue University Fall 2016
• American Studies Research Grant, Purdue University Fall 2015
• Social Science Research Council Mellon Mays Grant Fall 2015
• American Studies Travel Grant, Purdue University Fall 2014
• Lynn Fellowship, Purdue University Fall 2014
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Barnard College 2013-2015

PROGRAM AND UNIVERSITY SERVICE
• Co-organizer, American Studies Symposium Committee (Spring 2017)
Purdue University
• Student Representative, Program Curriculum Committee (Fall 2016- Spring 2017)
Purdue University

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
• American Studies Association
• National Women’s Studies Association
• College Language Association

SKILLS
• Language: Twi (Basic Proficiency)
• Computer Software- STATA