Visiting Scholar Spotlight: Rawia Tawfik Amer
Dining with Achebe’s Family, Debating American Diplomacy: Reflections from a Year at CAS
When I was offered the opportunity to serve as a Visiting Associate Professor at Yale’s Council on African Studies, I expected a rewarding period of teaching and research within a prestigious academic setting. What unfolded, however, far exceeded those expectations—a transformative journey marked by rich intellectual engagement, interdisciplinary exchange, and encounters that bridged the realms of scholarship and diplomacy.
My research project focused on U.S. diplomacy toward Sudan—a timely topic given the ongoing and consequential war in this strategic African country, as well as the heavy criticism in academic and policy circles of American diplomacy in the region. My position at CAS gave me access to senior American diplomats who have played active roles in shaping and implementing U.S. policy toward Sudan. Some of these diplomats were just next door, hosted by the Jackson School of Global Affairs after serving in the Biden administration. I met others during my field trip to Washington, D.C., where I collected data for my research and took part in a policy dialogue at the Wilson Centre. These encounters were invaluable in providing first-hand insights into the challenges and limitations of American diplomacy in Africa in general, and Sudan in particular.
Another unforgettable highlight of my stay was speaking at CAS’s Chinua Achebe Leadership in Africa Forum and sharing my insights on leadership and democracy in Africa. It was a privilege to share the panel with noted African politicians whose careers I have taught in my classes in Egypt—such as Peter Obi—and others like Minister Seleshi Bekele, who have played instrumental roles in policies I have researched for years. The fact that the forum was co-organized with the Christie and Chinua Achebe foundation added a unique dimension: the opportunity to interact with the family of a literary giant whose novels I have long admired and whose values I deeply respect.
Interacting with students at Yale was equally rewarding. Given its interdisciplinary nature, my course on Africa’s political ecology attracted undergraduates from a wide range of disciplines—political science, African studies, global affairs, and even chemical engineering. These diverse academic backgrounds enriched our classroom discussions. Students brought in thoughtful perspectives on environmental issues and natural resource governance. They appreciated political ecology’s focus on how power relations shape access to and control over resources in Africa, as well as its commitment to justice, equity, and sustainability. I was particularly excited by how these themes were reflected in their term papers, which covered an impressive array of cases—from solar energy projects in Morocco to carbon credit programs in Liberia and national parks in Kenya.
Beyond the classroom, I valued the opportunity to engage with master’s students at CAS, learn about their innovative projects, and contribute to ongoing conversations about Africa’s environmental politics. I was also encouraged by the interest shown by the African Students Association and Sudanese Students Association, which jointly invited me to deliver a lecture on the war in Sudan—a conflict that continues to receive insufficient media and policy attention despite its catastrophic humanitarian toll. To help raise awareness, I coordinated a public lecture at CAS featuring Fayez Elseleik, a Sudanese journalist and former media advisor to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and Caitlin Howarth from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab.
As I conclude my time at the Council on African Studies, I carry with me not only the academic growth that such a prestigious appointment fosters, but also a deeper appreciation for original research contributions and defense of shared human values and causes. What began as a focused academic engagement evolved into a transformative experience, marked by meaningful conversations, unexpected insights, and enduring connections.