Dr. George Njung Appointed Assistant Professor of African Studies in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core

“We are very excited for Dr. Njung to join the BIC,” said Dr. Sarah Walden, Associate Professor of Rhetoric in the BIC and chair of the search committee that recommended Njung. “Dr. Njung will bring a scholarly emphasis on African history and culture, which will allow us to continue to expand the BIC curriculum. Many of our students are interested in research in topics related to the African continent, and Dr. Njung will be an excellent mentor if students wish to pursue archival research.”

Njung earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Buea, Cameroon, a Master of Arts in History from the University of Buea, Cameroon, and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on gendered and transnational histories of the First World War in Africa, colonialism, colonial gendered and sexual violence, war disability, and historical approaches to African migrant and refugee experiences. His first book, Violent Encounters: A Gendered History of the First World War in Cameroon, forthcoming from Ohio University Press, thus relates the remarkable accomplishments, experiences, and leadership of Cameroonian women, who were also often victims of grievous gender-based violence. By giving voice to their stories and contextualizing their place within WWI, Dr. Njung substantially expands understanding of a momentous chapter of twentieth-century history.

“Dr. Njung immediately stood out as a faculty member students would be drawn to because he is conversant across so many topics and perspectives,” Walden said. “He is a historian, which is an important specialization in the BIC curriculum, yet his work also engages other fields through his emphasis on gender, disability, politics, and war. I hope all BIC students get the chance to appreciate all he will bring to the program.”

Njung comes to the Honors College after serving as a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa where he taught, advised, and mentored students. Before his tenure at Wits, Njung was a postdoctoral teaching fellow at Washington State University.

Njung is eager to share his expertise with BIC students and contribute to the mission of the Honors College.

“I am looking forward to sharing my love of History with BIC students,” Njung said. “As a professor, I am passionate about student success, and the smaller class sizes the Honors College offers will provide me with more opportunities to help students achieve their goals. I cannot wait to get started.”

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Njung to the Honors College!