California State University, Dominguez Hills announces the appointment of Dr. Munashe Furusa as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, effective July 1.
Furusa has served the university during the past 13 years as professor and department chair of Africana studies, chair of the Academic Senate, the executive director of the California African American Political and Economic Institute on campus, acting associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and most recently as acting dean. He has also chaired and served on numerous committees, and been honored with several university recognitions, including the university’s Excellence in Service Award in 2008, the 2004 Lyle E. Gibson Dominguez Hills Distinguished Teacher Award, the Frederick Douglass Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service and the 2002 and 2000 Cheikh Anta Diop Award for Outstanding Research in Africana Studies.
Furusa first came to CSU Dominguez Hills as a visiting professor from the University of Zimbabwe where he was an assistant professor of African languages and literatures. Prior to entering higher education, he held numerous positions in his native Zimbabwe, from high school headmaster to a national role as chairman of the Zimbabwe Literature Curriculum Development Committee.
“Dr. Furusa is an esteemed scholar who is dedicated to the work of this university, and we welcome him in this capacity,” said CSU Dominguez Hills Provost Ramon Torrecilha.
A prolific author, he has written dozens of articles and books on Africana culture, identity and literature. He serves on the board of the National Council for Black Studies.
He is also active in the community, working with young African American and Latino youth. In 2008 he was honored with the Carson Black Chamber of Commerce Education Award.
Furusa received his doctorate in Africana literature and critical theory, and his master’s and bachelor’s in English from the University of Zimbabwe.
The College of Arts and Humanities houses the departments of communications, art and design, music, theatre arts and dance, Africana studies, Chicana/o studies, English, modern languages, history, philosophy, and interdisciplinary studies, and academic programs in digital media arts, Asian pacific studies, women’s studies, humanities, and negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding and labor studies.
