African American Faculty and Staff Coalition
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Together We Can

Putting truth into action

Dr. Joseph E. Heyward, former provost, and Dr. Lee A. Vickers, former president of Francis Marion University, signed the charter agreement that established the FMU African American Faculty and Staff Coalition on February 24, 1995. Our purpose is to stimulate and enhance cultural awareness, to promote professional development and welfare among faculty, staff, and students.

Our goals include:

  • Increasing morale and communication among members
  • Creating an atmosphere of community for FMU African American faculty, staff, and students
  • Serving as a liaison between the administrative personnel of FMU and the African American faculty and staff
  • Examining the university’s efforts in recruitment and retention of African American faculty and staff, and recognizing we play a vital role in contributing to the educational growth of minority students

Our motto, “Together We Can” puts truth into action.

Scholarships

We feel that we have a responsibility to provide guidance, support and financial assistance to qualifying FMU African American students.

With the support and encouragement of President L. Fred Carter, the FMU Administration, our ardent members, and faithful supporters, we are able to award four named scholarships. Given the assistance of generous donors we’ve been able to increase the number of our scholarships.

Recognized AAFSC Scholarships:

  • Dr. Joseph E. Heyward Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Dr. Dorothy M. Harris Graduate Student Scholarship Fund
  • Ms. Rebecca S. Lunn Scholarship Fund
  • Dr. Leroy “Pete” Peterson Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Mrs. Joyce M. Durant African & African American Studies Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Mrs. Yvonne G. Davis Community Service Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Dr. Alfreda Campbell-Wilson Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Mrs. Linda M. Sullen Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Mr. Carlton Sellers Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Mr. Steven Sims Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Bishop Donald Jackson – Young Gifted and Blessed Scholarship
  • Ms. Yvette Hammonds Pierce Graduate Fellowship
  • Mr. H. Vashon Brown Endowed Scholarship Fund
Support AAFSC Scholarships
Scholar Program Application
Bernard E. Powers Jr. earned the Ph. D in American history at Northwestern University.  He is professor emeritus of history at the College of Charleston and the College’s founding director of the Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston.  His Black Charlestonians:  A Social History 1822-1885, was designated an “Outstanding Academic Book” by Choice Magazine. Powers is co-author of We Are Charleston: Tragedy and Triumph at Mother Emanuel, which contextualizes the city’s racially motivated murders of 2015. Most recently he has edited 101 African Americans Who Shaped South Carolina (USC Press, 2020).  Powers has appeared in African American oriented documentary films, including the PBS production, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross and Emanuel: The Untold Story of the Victims and Survivors of the Charleston Church Shooting. He was the founding president of the Charleston Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.  In 2019 that organization recognized his commitment to “research, writing, and activism in the field of African American life and history” with the Carter Godwin Woodson Scholars Medallion.  Powers also served on the board of Charleston’s recently opened International African American Museum.

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AAFSC Cultural Conversations Registration

Join the Coalition

The AAFSC is committed to the advancement of our organization through an increase in membership and the encouragement of participation among our current members. We invite you to join us because together, we can:

  • Educate all people about the rich culture, history, and accomplishments of African Americans.
  • Increase morale, fellowship, and communication among our members through special events, educational seminars, and professional development.
  • Initiate opportunities and special projects for African American students that will aid in their development as scholars and future leaders.
  • Commit to the advancement of undergraduate students through scholarship funds.

Annual membership dues are $25.00 and may be paid by check, cash or money order.  Please make payable to “FMU AAFSC”.

Become a member today!

UPCOMING EVENTS

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AAFSC Diversity Award

The Diversity Award was established in February 2009 to honor a permanent, full-time employee of Francis Marion University who works diligently to promote ethnic understanding and diversity across the FMU campus.  The award recognizes the faculty and staff member’s commitment to diversity at the University and community at large.  This award, which carries a beautiful plaque, is presented at the annual AAFSC Banquet/Gala.The following criteria have been established:

  1. The recipient must be a full-time permanent employee of Francis Marion University
  2. The recipient must have demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting diversity for a sustained period of time, exercising sound judgment and character in their work. Community service activities will also be considered.
  3. New nominations are required each year. Nominations may be made by any administrative, faculty, or staff member at FMU. Self-nominations are not accepted.
  4. Nominations must meet the established deadline and should be made on the nomination form. Supporting materials, such as campus involvement, service on committees, and community activities should be included with the nomination form.
  5. Nominations will be judged by a committee appointed by the President of the Coalition.
  6. Past winners will not be eligible to receive the award a second time.

Past Winners:

  • 2010 – Dr. Rebecca Lawson
  • 2011 – Dr. Louis Venters
  • 2012 – Ms. Angela Crosland
  • 2013 – Dr. Rhonda M. Brogdon
  • 2014 – Ms. Yvonne Davis
  • 2015 – Mrs. Crystal L. Graham
  • 2016 – Dr. Will Wattles
  • 2017 – Mr. Jason H. Owens
  • 2018 – Dr. Ruth A. Wittmann-Price
  • 2019 – Dr. Shayna A. Wrighten
  • 2020 – Dr. Erica James
  • 2021 – Dr. Daniel Brauss
  • 2022 – Ms. Latasha Brand
  • 2023 – Dr. Charlene Wages
  • 2024 – Dr. Christopher Barton

Current Officers

President

✖
  • Dr. Couch Todd
    Dr. Todd Couch Associate Professor of Sociology, Co-Director African & African American Studies todd.couch@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1917 Departments
    Sociology
    OfficeFH 238
    Additional information

    Ph. D. – Texas A&M University, 2014

    Bio

    Dr. Todd C. Couch is an Assistant Professor of Sociology. His research focuses on examining racial and ethnic relations in the United States from various theoretical perspectives. Dr. Couch's research using systemic racism theory to analyze threat narratives promoted by student gun rights organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus was recently published in Issues in Race and Society. His current research examines racialized emotions and the influence of inverted epistemology in constructing vulnerability narratives. He also serves as an expert reviewer for The Journal of Historical Sociology. Dr. Couch has presented his research at national and regional conferences, including the American Sociological Association, the American Society of Criminology, the Association of Black Sociologists, the Southern Sociological Society, and the Southwestern Social Science Association.

    Courses Taught:

    SOCI 201: Principles of Sociology

    SOCI 310: Racial and Cultural Minorities

    SOCI 311: Economic Inequality

    SOCI 375: Sociology of Health and Medicine

    SOCI 389: Sociology of Religion

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Parliamentarian