African-American Literature and
Culture
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Dr. Simmons, right, with Vladimir
Romakin, director of the International Department at Petro Mohyla Mykolayiv. |
Dr. Hortense Simmons, professor emeritus at California State University,
lectured on African-American Literature and
Culture at Petro Mohyla Mykolayiv State University
in Ukraine during the fall of 2004. She taught a
survey of African-American literature for fourth-year
students and a seminar on African-American poetry
for fifth-year students, and also advised students who
were writing masters' theses on American literature.
Her experience with her students convinced her to
return for a second semester:
"I admire their discipline, their hard work, their
genuine interest in African literature and culture.
I was amazed that despite being enrolled in some
ten courses, most came to my classes having read the
assignments. Very early in the term, I was able to
create a trusting atmosphere between us. Though
primarily accustomed to lectures, they quickly adapted
to participating in class discussions, often offering
perceptive assessments of the readings, probing me for
answers to complex political and social underpinnings
connected with the works. I loved it! I truly enjoyed
having them drop in my office at times to discuss
matters not associated with our class."
 |
Dr. Hortense Simmons lecturing to a group of students in Ukraine. |
Hortense Simmons became something of a celebrity during her time
in Ukraine, participating in conferences throughout the country.
Her teaching was the focus of an article in the newspaper Evening
Mykolayiv, by a journalist who had met her in the mayor’s office. The
mayor “was keenly interested in learning about my teaching experiences
and impressions of how my Ukrainian students compared with American
students, as well as other international students I’ve taught.” She was also
interviewed for Ukrainian television.
Dr. Simmons prepared curriculum packages not only for her host
university, but for three other universities where she delivered guest
lectures at: Dnipropetrovsk National University, Kyiv Linguistic
University and Shevchenko University in Kyiv. She had corresponded
with her colleagues at Petro Mohyla before her arrival, and purchased
books needed for their instructional materials as well as books needed
for her own classes. The English Philology Department sponsored a
formal presentation at the library featuring her donated collection of
books and videotapes, which was well attended by faculty and students.
At this point, she says, “Petro Mohyla probably has the finest selection of
books and videotapes on African-American literature in the country.”
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Dr. Simmons, right, receives a gift from the mayor of Mykolayiv. |
In the fall semester of 2005, Dr. Simmons returned to Ukraine on
an extension of her grant to work with universities across Ukraine,
giving guest lectures and developing curricula in African-American
literature. She was hosted by a former Fulbrighter, Svitlana Pukhnata,
at the Horlivka Pedagogical Institute of World Literature in Donetsk,
where she taught a pilot seminar in academic writing. She collaborated
with another former Fulbrighter, Halyna Zaporohozhets, by providing
curricular expertise on short fiction of American ethnic women writers
for her “Engendering the Curriculum” American Studies project.
Since her return to the United States, Hortense Simmons has
sponsored Professor Natalia Vysotska of Kyiv National Linguistics
University, who had studied African-American drama as a Fulbright
Student in Mississippi ten years before, as a visiting professor at
California State. Dr. Simmons continues sharing her expertise with
Ukrainian faculty and students, and planning new activities for the
future.
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| "International education
exchange is the most significant current project
designed to continue the process of humanizing
mankind to the point, we would hope, that
nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright |
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