Jean-Jacques Sene, Ph.D.

Photo of Jean-Jaques Sene
Associate professor of History; Cultural Studies; Conflict Studies
412-365-2924
Falk - 115B

Hometown:  Dakar, Senegal
Joined Chatham:  2007

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Africology, Panafricanism, mythistory, modern African History, nexus religion-politics in Africa, neo-socialism, conflict transformation.

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Trends in “global popular movements”, élite vs. people’s power, political activism, basketball, soccer, bass guitar.

BIOGRAPHY

DR. JEAN-JACQUES SÈNE is Associate Professor of History, Cultural, and Conflict Studies. In his native Senegal, he spearheaded a number of community development initiatives with the regional bureaus of UNICEF and UNESCO in the late 1980s-early 1990s. His doctoral dissertation (Université de Rennes 2 Haute Bretagne, Brittany, France, 1999) explored the patterns of survival of ancient myths and rituals in post-colonial Africa, and how they can help establish the matrix of a new social consciousness to meet the global challenges of today. He has lived and worked in Japan and the Netherlands. Dr. Sène also holds a degree in Social Anthropology (Paris XIII), and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies (Duquesne University, 2001). His current research focuses on myth, religion, power, sub-regional integration programs in West Africa, the African renaissance movement, and neo-Marxist movements in the global arena. Jean-Jacques has made significant achievements in the management of innovative educational programs and has expertise in leadership-oriented projects among the youth in multicultural environments. He maintains extensive professional linkages throughout African, American, Asian, and European academic communities. Jean-Jacques is married to a compatriot, Valérie. They have raised two young women in Pittsburgh.

EDUCATION
  • MA Program in Social and Public Policy program; Certificate in Conflict Resolution, 2001
  • Ph.D. , Universite de Rennes II- Haute Bretagne, 1999
  • Post Masters program in Social Anthropology, 1997
  • Master’s Degree in Literatures and Civilizations of the English-speaking world, Suma cum Laude, 1990
AWARDS 
  • Brother Gregory Nugent EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD (2006-2007). LaRoche College.
ORGANIZATIONS
  • International Editorial Board of African Conflict & Peacebuilding Review
  • International Forum Democracy and Cooperation, Spain
  • Acts of the International Pan-African Colloquium of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Political Pool: Bandung Spirit International Working Group
  • The West African Research Association
  • African Studies Association
ACHIEVEMENTS
  • Consultant, Refugee Resettlement Project, Mesites Foundation/Mediators Beyond Borders (since 2007)
  • Helped set up, help administering the Center for the Study of Conflict at CU
  • Coordinates the campus-wide Global Focus program (2007-present)
  • Who’s Who in American Higher Education, (2005).
  • Most-Influential Educators in Western Pennsylvania Nominee, 2005.
  • Special Scholar’s Visit Program, Wabash College, IN. (Fall 2004)
  • Access Grant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI. (Fall 2004)
  • Black Achiever 2004: Black Opinion Magazine Award Recipient (Pittsburgh –PA) 2004
  • Pennsylvania State Delegate to the Africa Summit (2000), Washington DC,.
  • Libermann Scholarship for Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies (1999) Duquesne University
  • Government of Senegal Ph.D. candidate awardee for international scholarship (1993)
  • Wood Badge (International Leader): World Scout Organization (1990)– Geneva, Switzerland
  • Youth Leader Scholarship award: National Assembly for Youth Development (1989) - Japan
  • Societies & Cultures concentration instructor, Pennsylvania Governor's School for International Studies, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh, (since 2000)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  • (submitted for inclusion in upcoming updates to International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest) “Senegal: Neocolonial Pathos and Self-serving Political Class”
  • (submitted for inclusion in upcoming updates to International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest) “The Ontogenesis of Free Men in Burkina Faso”
  • (submitted for inclusion in upcoming updates to International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest) “Cheikh Anta Diop: the Restoration of Historical Consciousness in Black Africa”
  • French Translation of Patrick Manning, The African Diaspora [New York: Columbia University Press, (Studies in International & Global History) 2009]. ISBN: 978-0-231-14470-4. (deposited at Paris: Éditions Présence Africaine in November 2012 for final editing and publication).
  • “Mali, protests and uprisings, 1850s–2005” in International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest, London: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-4051-8464-9 (March 2009)
  • “The Politics of Religion in Black Africa” in The Rise of Religion-Based Political Movements […].. Jakarta, Indonesia: Bandung Spirit Book Series. ISBN: 978-979-18746-0-1 (spring 2009)
  • “L’Intercontinentale de la fin de la fin de l’histoire et les contours d’un nouvel humanisme antilibéral: Naxal, Cabral, San Cristobal et Népal” ["Antiliberal Humanism and the End of the End of History: Naxal, Cabral, San Cristobal and Nepal"] in Journal of Identity, Culture and Politics. An Afro-Asian Dialogue. ISSN 0851-2914. [Dhaka, Bengladesh & Toamasina, Madagascar] (spring 2010)
  • Ki-Zerbo and Ngorsène, L’Idéal panafricain contemporain: fondements historiques et perspectives futures. [The Panafrican Ideal: Historical Foundations and Perspectives for the Future] Dakar: CODESRIA (Council for the Development of Social Science in Africa). ISBN: 978-2-86978-585-4. Forthcoming.
  • The Ontogenesis of Free Men in the Faso, The International Encyclopedia of Protest and Revolution, Blackwell (2009)
  • Mali: The Most Evocative Name in Occidental Africa, The International Encyclopedia of Protest and Revolution, Blackwell (2009)
  • (seeking publisher-article) Cheikh Anta Diop:Trajectory for the Restoration of Historical Consciousness in Black Africa
  • (seeking publisher -article) SENEGAL: Neocolonial pathos and self-serving political class
  • (book-long manuscript) Mythologies of Power in West Africa
  • (working paper) The End of the End of History in Our Times: Naxal, Cabral, San Cristobal, and Nepal
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
  • “Africa in Conflict: Transformation or Recovery?” Juniata College African Politics Lecture Series, Huntington: PA (April 2013). Full-text of Keynote speech published by Proquest’s and Ebsco databases Juniata Voices, Volume 13 – (Nov. 2013)
  • Presentation of my manuscript Towards an Afro-Asian Renaissance? African Studies Research Consortium, Carnegie Mellon University (Nov 2012)
  • “Race, International Politics, and Democratic Revolutions”, University of The Gambia (April 2012)
  • “New Keys for Understanding Panafricanism”, University of The Gambia (March 2012)
  • “Sustaining the New Wave in African Governance”, World Affairs Council Summer Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA (June 2011)
  • “Religion and Politics in Black Africa”, African Studies Research Consortium, Carnegie Mellon University (April 2011)
  • “Women, Children, the Millennium Development Goals and Afro-Asian Solidarity in the Third Millennium”, Global Problems, Global Solutions International Conference, Pittsburgh, (November 2010)
  • “Remarks on Popular Sovereignty in the Developing World”, Gadjah Mada University, Jogjakarta: Indonesia, (Oct. 2010)
  • Speaker, “AFRICOM: A Symptom (of what)?” World Affairs Council Summer Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA (June 2010)
  • Keynote speaker: “The Durability and Prospects of West Africa’s Contributions to World History.” Annual Africa Day. Old Dominion University, Norfolk: VA (October 2009)
  • Speaker, “The African Century: Renaissance, Humanism, and the New World Order,” Norfolk State University: VA, (Feb. 2009)
  • “[…] Levers for Afrocentric Transatlantic Linkages.” All-African Peoples Commemorative Colloquium Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, (December 2008)
  • Speaker, “Progress and Setbacks in Africa,” American Federation of Teachers: First Seminar on International Affairs, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 2008)
  • “Operationalizing Panafricanism.” IV International Forum on Democracy & Cooperation. Institute of Political Studies for Latin America and Africa (IEPALA) Badajoz, Spain. (September 2008)
  • “The End of the End of History in Our Times […].” University of Hyderabad, India (August 2008)
  • “The End of the End of History and West African Regionalism”, African Studies Research Consortium, West Virginia University (April 2008)
  • “Justice for Oppressed Peoples”, Global Problems Global Solutions Conference, Pittsburgh, PA (October 2007)