Intercontinental Understanding
Ohio Wesleyan Students Examine Black Women's Health Care, Feminisms in Southern Africa
Name: Ella Lazare '27
Hometown: Inglewood, California
High School: The Bay School of San Francisco
Major: Zoology
Minor: Communication
OWU Connection Experience: Travel-Learning Course to Southern Africa, concluding a semester-long, on-campus study of "Health Communication & The Black Body" and "Black Feminisms"
Lazare traveled to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana for three weeks in May and June 10, along with OWU students Jalani Ball '27 of Cleveland, Ohio; Allison Bogan '26 of Xenia, Ohio; Nuri Craig '25 of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Daniela Flores '27 of Norristown, Pennsylvania; Kaniya Johnson '27 of Columbus, Ohio; Hodan Khalif '26 of Columbus, Ohio; Meg McCarthy '25 of Trumbull, Connecticut; Lauren McClymont '25 of Fairfax, Virginia; and Jaila Conway Patterson '27 of Columbus, Ohio.
The courses centered " health disparities among Black women in the USA and Southern African countries, the mechanisms through which mass-mediated and interpersonal communication messages affect health behaviors and outcomes of Black women in the USA and Southern Africa, and how health communication theory informs research and health intervention practices targeted at Black women in the USA and Southern Africa."
The courses were co-taught by Dawn Chisebe, OWU's chief diversity officer and a lecturer in the Department of Africana, Gender, and Identity Studies, and Phokeng Dailey, Ph.D., associate professor of Communication (and now OWU's vice president for Marketing and Communications). Both professors traveled to Southern Africa to lead the travel-learning experience.
Learning about the mistreatment that Black women have historically and currently face when it comes to health care and bodily autonomy provided me with background I didn't know I needed.
Relevant Course Content
"I chose this TLC because the course content directly impacts me. Learning about the mistreatment that Black women have historically and currently face when it comes to health care and bodily autonomy provided me with background I didn't know I needed. In addition, having the chance to visit three countries in Africa and learn about all things health care, culture, and animal conservation was incredible, as I am studying zoology and communication."
Favorite Moments
"Doing the four safaris and visiting the painted dogs conservation center because it provided me so much hope. Seeing giraffes, elephants, lions, impalas, zebras, and hippos out in the wild, unbothered by humans, brought me to tears.
"Africa has managed to create a safe, natural environment for these animals without exploiting them in the process. The guides can educate the public, integrating animal activism and conservation into the tours, and invest in tourism in lucrative ways without compromising their beliefs."
Lessons Learned
"I learned more about the conservation work being done in Africa to protect safari animals, which connects to the zoology research I plan to study. I learned about maternal health and HIV care being done in local communities through small organizations, as well as the political efforts being done surrounding health care.
"These experiences matter because learning about topics from media vs. experiencing them in person gives you a sense of appreciation and a better understanding of what you're studying. In addition, being well-traveled is always great because it gives you a holistic sense of the world and, in Africa specifically, it helps you break past your internal biases about the continent."
Campus Involvements
"I am an intern in the Chief Diversity Office (CDO), the director of social-cultural for the Sisters United club, a member of BSU (Black Student Union), and a part-time DJ for Admission and CDO." Lazare also is leading a Theory-to-Practice Grant-supported trip to South Africa in December.
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
"I chose OWU because during my visit in October of 2022, I fell in love with the scenery and opportunities. I knew I wanted a small liberal arts school, and OWU happened to be one of the few liberal arts colleges with an amazing Zoology program. Being from California, I also wanted a change of pace."
Plans After Graduation
"I plan to take a gap year and then go to graduate school and study animal behavior or animal science to either become a zoologist specializing in reproduction and mating or a wildlife rehabilitator."
