Name:Leslie Steeves, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor
Hometown: Burlington, Vermont
About: I first came to Ghana on Fulbright in 1996 and have been returning ever since. Ghana is a beautiful and accessible country offering rich opportunities for media internships, research and service projects. 2025 marks my 23rd year bringing UO SOJC students to Ghana. The 2025 group promises to be a great one. It is exciting and humbling to see such a growing interest in sub-Saharan Africa at UO.
About: I study and teach brand strategy and environmental risk communication. I believe we all are sums of our varied experiences, and helping students encounter the world outside their comfort zones is an enduring way of developing empathy and making students well-rounded professionals. So, I couldn’t turn down Leslie’s invitation to be part of this year’s study abroad to Ghana, where I am originally from. I hope to learn more about “my people” in ways I have not realized in the past.
Name:Dayna Chatman, Senior Instructor I, Media and Intersectionality
Hometown: San Francisco Bay Area, California
About: I am a member of the faculty at the School of Journalism and Communication in the media studies area. I teach courses that explore historic and contemporary representations of various social groups in American media and their role in sustaining and challenging the political, cultural and ideological status quo. I’m excited to join this trip to Accra, Ghana, to learn more about the country’s history, gain some insight into its evolving media industry and try a new cuisine. On a deeply personal level, as an African American, I’m honored to have the opportunity to set foot on the continent of my ancestors.
