‘Need a Lift?’ with Prof. Rex Ahene

Episode 9: Prof. Rex Ahene

Over his 40-year career at Lafayette, Professor of Economics Rex Ahene has been part of the College’s evolution into a more diverse and inclusive space. At the time he joined the College’s faculty, he was the only person of color teaching on campus. The founding director of the Africana Studies program at Lafayette, Ahene was instrumental in the creation of the College’s dean for multicultural affairs and diversity issues position. He helped found the McDonogh Network, served as a faculty adviser to the Association of Black Collegians, chaired the Black Cultural Center Committee, and helped establish the Portlock Black Cultural Center, Office for Intercultural Affairs, Interim Program/Study Abroad in Africa, and Black Coalition. Here, with President Nicole Farmer Hurd, Ahene reflects on his career as a scholar and mentor. (Learn more about Ahene’s career.)