UK’s first black female professor, Cameroonian born Olivette Otele
Prof. Olivette Otele has been awarded a Professorship, and chair in history by the Bath Spa University . She goes into record as UK’s first black female professor.
The professor made the announcement on Twitter and stated;
“May this open the door to many hard-working women, especially woc ( Women of color) + specifically black women, in academia in general and in history in particular “.
Olivette Otele : Academic profile
The history professor obtained a first degree from Sorbonne , University of Paris. In 2002, she was awarded a Masters in Advanced Studies .Prof. Olivette obtained a PhD degree in 2005.Prof. Olivette is a colonial and Post -colonial specialist.
She specializes in collective memory and geopolitics with focus on France and Britain’s colonial histories.
Her current research delves on transnational history and the connection between history , collective memory and geopolitics in relation to British and its colonial past.
Olivette Otele’s source of inspiration
Prof. Olivette’s success story has been inspired by three prominent women;
# Susanne Ćesaire , her teacher and writer
# Anna Julia Cooper, ( one of the finest African -Americans to receive a doctoral degree)
# Anna Nzinga , 17th century Angolan queen
The new professor is a member of a number of professional associations including; ‘Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS). She is executive board member of the ‘ British Society for the Eighteenth -Century Studies’ and Board member of ‘Historians Against Slavery’.
Prof. Olivette speaks three languages including French and English. She is a co-author and has many publications to her credit.
Kathy Neba Sina