Dr. Lelei enjoys working with students, mentoring, advising and providing information to navigate African Studies within Pitt’s international Studies framework. She encourages students to take African Studies content courses, travel to Africa to allow them first-hand experience and help them enhance their knowledge and appreciation of Africa and its rich diversity. She works in collaboration with faculty affiliates on strategies to offer more learning opportunities for students through new courses with enriched content on Africa, and out of the classroom learning activities that promote cross-cultural exchanges and networking.
She has developed programming that enhance learning about Africa not only for Pitt students but also for K-12 students in Pittsburgh schools. She continues to explore opportunities to advance the center's goals and enrich student-learning experiences, as we prepare them to become global citizens who are aware of and understand their wider world-and their place in it. Additionally, Dr. Lelei holds a part-time faculty appointment in the School of Education where she teaches Education and International Development. Her research focuses on the development of education in Africa with specific interest in educational access, equity, quality and education development policy.
Macrina Chelagat Lelei: Diversity and Inclusion Chancellor's Staff Award 2016
Acting Director, African Studies Program, University Center for International Studies
The award selection committee applauded Macrina Chelagat Lelei’s efforts to create a culture of diversity and inclusion on campus—and beyond, as some of her students study abroad through Pitt’s programs in Africa. Chancellor Gallagher, in his award letter, cited an undergraduate student’s comment that Lelei has helped students “’be sensitive toward the individual diversity of culture, language, and lifestyle patterns…” Gallagher also noted that several of the study-abroad returnees have gone on to receive national and international awards.
Dr. Lelei established the Pitt in Tanzania Summer Study Abroad program in 2010. The program offered students an intensive learning experience combining in-class instruction with immersion in the daily life and cultures of the Tanzanian people.
Please see our Annual Reports containing information about CAS programs most have been established under my leadership.
https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/annual-reports
I was Instrumental in Establishing the Model African Union Programs at Pitt (the High School Model African Union and the Pitt Model African Union). Both programs aim to educate and bring awareness about Africa to our students through studying the role, structure and activities of the African Union as well as the capabilities and constraints that shape the policies of AU member states in the arena of intra-African diplomacy
