UL Signs Agreements with Two Georgia (USA) Universities

MONROVIA – Two formal agreements were signed between the University of Liberia (UL) and institutions of higher learning from the State of Georgia (USA) last month on the main campus of UL.

The first, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) originating from the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, cements the relationship between UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and UL’s College of Agriculture and Forestry.

The second, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) originating from Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, opens the door for the creation of a Gender Studies Program at UL by linking GSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and UL’s Liberia College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

Dr. Emmett Dennis, President of UL, signed the agreements, which were presented by Dr. Layli Phillips, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies at GSU and Chair of the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL).

The UCL is the brainchild of Cynthia Blandford Nash, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Liberia for the State of Georgia. UCL is a network of colleges, universities, and other educationally oriented institutions in the State of Georgia whose mission is “To lift Liberia by coordinating diverse academic efforts for increased impact.” The network was launched in June of 2009 with the endorsement of Ambassador M. Nathaniel Barnes.

In attendance at the signing were numerous UL administrators, faculty members and visitors, including Prof. C. Morlee Mends-Cole, Dean of Agriculture and Forestry; Prof. Steven Jubwe, Acting Dean of Liberia College; and Prof. Martin Scott, Director for International Relations.

The signing of the two agreements linking UL to major universities in the State of Georgia reflects the growing momentum of the network with regard to academic, technological, and entrepreneurial exchanges with the Republic of Liberia.

As a follow-up to the UGA-UL MOU, Dr. J. Scott Angle, Dean of UGA’s CAES, will be visiting Liberia early this year to meet with UL officials and to discuss enhancing agricultural education, research, and outreach at UL.

In line with the GSU-UL MOC, Phillips is scheduled to lead a study abroad class to Liberia to examine gender issues and gender development in May 2010. Concurrently, Nash will lead a trade and educational mission to Liberia, which includes a heritage tour co-hosted by Dr. David Smith, Jr., of GSU. Smith is author of the book The African-American Presidents: The Founding Fathers of Liberia, 1848-1904. Currently, additional MOUs between UCL member institutions and Liberian institutions of higher learning are pending, the details of which are expected to materialize later this year.

It can be recalled that Nash led trade missions to Liberia in October 2008 and September 2009. She also led a medical mission in March 2009, during which time she also escorted a delegation from the U.S. to the 2009 International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, and International Peace and Security.

Phillips, who is editor of the groundbreaking volume, The Womanist Reader, has been working with UL to develop a Gender Studies program since the colloquium last March. This program will be the first of its kind at UL. Observers anticipate that the gender studies program will open many new windows of opportunity for the University of Liberia and Liberians in general.