Dr. Kalenda Eaton, 2016-2017 Fulbright Scholar from Arcadia University, has been awarded a J. William ​Fulbright Research Chair in Society and Culture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This prestigious opportunity allows exceptional scholars to develop their areas of study at host universities and institutions. 

During her five-month stay in Halifax from August to December, Dr. Eaton, associate professor of English and director of Global Learning, will explore the relationship between the African/Black Canadian subject, citizenship, and “the politics of belonging” in the Canadian space. She plans to compile her research into a chapter for her forthcoming book on the connection between Black North American identity formation and the quest for citizenship as represented in historical fiction.

In addition to examining Canadian literature and scholarship in Dalhousie’s archives, Dr. Eaton has been invited to give lectures on her published research to the university community, mentor graduate students, engage with the local African-Canadian community in Halifax, and interact with scholars affiliated with the Black and African Diaspora studies minor, a new program set to begin the semester she arrives at Dalhousie.

While learning more about the local histories, Dr. Eaton also hopes to share aspects of American culture that are not typically addressed in international media with students and colleagues. Additionally, she plans to draw inspiration from Dalhousie’s scholarly community to develop academic opportunities for her students at Arcadia.

“Since Dalhousie is a major research university, I expect that my time there will expose me to cutting edge pedagogy and innovative styles of teaching that I can incorporate into the classroom at Arcadia,” said Dr. Eaton. “I plan to use my experience and research in Nova Scotia to develop a course with a travel component, focused on Canada’s relationship to African American history, culture, and literature.”