Anatol Rodgers Memorial Lecture Series
Thanks to a generous donation from the Rodgers family, English Studies hosts the Anatol Rodgers Memorial Lecture Series every year. This series provides an opportunity for members of UB and the wider community to interact with noted literary and/or linguistic scholars. It is named in honour of the late Anatol Rodgers who contributed to the development of education in The Bahamas from 1933-1975 and who was the third Bahamian and first female principal of The Government High School (1971-1975). Although she taught many subjects during her professional life, Mrs. Rodgers’s first love was English.
Critical Caribbean Symposium Series / Community Conversations
The mission of the Critical Caribbean Symposium Series is to engage scholars from The Bahamas, the Caribbean and beyond from a wide range of disciplines, in dialogues and conversations around the many social, political, cultural, economic and environmental challenges facing the region today. The series seeks to establish University of The Bahamas as a centre of critical debate and knowledge production in the fields of Postcolonial, Caribbean and African Diasporic Studies. This series goes a long way in fulfilling UB’s mandate to foster the intellectual development of students and the wider community by encouraging critical analysis and independent thought. The symposium takes place in the fall semester and the Community Conversations take place in the spring.
English in the Park
This event is especially created to attract students with a strong interest in pursuing a degree in English, literature, creative writing, linguistics, film and/or drama; it promotes the programmes and events of English Studies. Set in scenic Independence Park on the Oakes Field Campus, English in the Park usually takes place in October.
The Written Word Series / Meet the Writer
This event exposes UB students to local and international writers. Through reading and writing workshops, students become more knowledgeable about contemporary literature and writers. The writing workshops allow students to learn of strategies to aid them in their pursuit of creating their own literary works.
The Blue Flamingo Literary Festival
This two-day festival is held in the spring semester; it promotes reading writing, and literary arts. By reaching out to local, regional, and international partners, BFLF hopes to create a space for developing, highlighting and encouraging a thriving Bahamian literary culture. One of the goals of the festival organizers is to interview all Bahamian writers and to create a digital archive of interviews along with copies of all the works by Bahamian writers, to be housed at UB. The festival will also highlight other uniquely Bahamian cultural art forms through music, dance, film screenings, open mic and food.
English Studies’ Ministry of Education Workshop
These workshops promote an understanding of the work of English Studies, especially the knowledge and skills required of first year university students in English composition and literature classes. They aim to bridge the gap between high school and university level English, so that students can perform at their best upon entry into UB. The workshop usually takes place in February/March.