The Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Liberia College), University of Liberia, the pioneer of tertiary education in Liberia with a history of academic excellence and tangible achievements in the educational sector and beyond Liberia’s distinct borders, has recruited eight new talented academics, scholars, and professionals with a degree in Social Sciences and Humanities. The College is delighted to announce that eight new Ph.D. holders have joined the faculty for the current academic semester 2021-2022. They are: Dr. Joseph Arku, Dr. D. Elliott Wreh-Wilson, Dr. Kula Marie Thompson-Williams, Dr. Nathaniel G. Gbessage, Dr. Henriette Lekoto, Dr. Lokokto Okele, and Dr. Romeo D.N. Gbartea.
The college has 258 faculty members for the current academic year, with 176 (68%) part-time faculty and 82 (32% full-time faculty). There are 219 male faculty members (85%), and 39 female faculty members (15%).The faculty breakdown shows 68 (26%) bachelor’s degree holders, 171 (67%) master’s degree holders, and 19 (7% of the faculty) with a doctorate degree. The College offers 597 course sections, of which 468 (78%) are taught face-to-face and 129 (22%) are taught online via the Moodle platform.
Dr. Joseph Arko received his Ph.D. in Pragmatics and Literary Comprehension from the University of Edinburgh in 2006. He also holds an MPhil in English and Applied Linguistics from the University of Cambridge (1995). In 1992, Dr. Arko earned his B.A. Degree (Hons) and Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast. For the past twenty-two years, Dr. Arko has served the Department of English at the University of Cape Coast as a lecturer and taught courses in English language (grammar, semantics, stylistics, error and contrastive analysis, language and literature, structure, and style) at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is hired as a full-time faculty member in the Department of English and Language with the academic rank of Associate Professor.
Dr. Victoria Kikelomo Olugbemi has been hired in the Department of History. She holds a B.A. Ed in History, a M.A. in History and International Studies, and a Ph.D. in History and International Studies from the Federal College of Education, Okene, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria. She has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching, project supervision, thesis writing and research, and community services. She also attended and organized local and international conferences, which can be of benefit to both students and lecturers in the department.
Dr. D. Elliott Wreh-Wilson earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston University in the United States in 1994. His dissertation concentrated on the topic of “Community and Morality in African Thought: A Critique of Placide Temples’ Bantu Philosophy.” He earned an MA in Philosophy from Boston College in 1981. Dr. Wreh-Wilson also earned a BA in philosophy from St. Paul’s College Seminary, Gbarnga, Bong County, in 1977. Dr. D. Elliott Wreh-Wilson has a vast knowledge and experience in academia; he served as President of William V.S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland, from 2018–2022. From 2017 to 2018, he was also the Vice President of Cuttington University also served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Coordinator, Graduate Studies and Research, at Tubman University in 2016. From 2002–2013, Dr. Wreh-Wilson served as Chair, Department of Philosophy, Edinboro University, Pennsylvania, USA. He is hired as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies with the academic rank of Professor.
Dr. Romeo D.N. Gbartea will hold a Ph.D. in Industrial Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2021. He also holds an MA in Industrial Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, from 2009. In 2001, Dr. Gbartea earned his B.A. degree in sociology, and in 2005, he also earned a BA in history from the University of Liberia. Dr. Gbartea also earned diplomas in fiscal decentralization and financial management in 2014 from Duke University, North Carolina, USA. He has written extensively and published in journals, and he is currently working on the manuscript of his new book. Dr. Gbartea has served the University of Liberia for 15 years as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and has contributed immensely to quality teaching. Dr. Gbartea is being hired for a full-time faculty position with the rank of assistant professor, and he will be domiciled in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology.
Dr. Lokokto Okele earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Information and Communication Science with an orientation in Strategic Management of Information and Communication in 2018 from the Higher Institute of Economic Studies, Guinea, Conakry. She also holds a master’s degree in information and communication science with an emphasis on strategic management of information and communication. Dr. Okele also earned a DEA Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Francophone Agency for Higher Education and Research. Dr. Okele has served as an Associate Professor at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Manono, Province of Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo. She also taught French and History at Kinshasa’s KALUM LA FONTAINE School in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Okele has also served as Public Relations Officer at OSADER Medial in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is hired as a full-time faculty member with the rank of assistant professor in the French Studies Unit, Department of English and Language Studies, University of Liberia.
Dr. Nathaniel G. Gbessage received his Ph.D. in rhetoric and technical communication from the Michigan Technical University in Houghton, Michigan, in 2011. He also holds a master’s degree in professional writing from Towson University, Maryland, USA, from 2005. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Strayer College, Washington, D.C., USA, in 1995. Dr. Gbessage, from 2012-2016, served as Professor, Department of Arts and Science, William V.S. Tubman University, Harper, Mary land, and served as President, Grand Bassa Community College, Buchanan, Grand Bassa Country. He is hired as a full-time faculty member with the rank of assistant professor in the department of English and language studies at the University of Liberia.
The College is also excited to announce that Dr. Kula Marie Thompson-Williams has been hired as a full-time faculty member and Chairperson, Department of English and Language Studies, with the academic rank of Assistant Professor. She earned a Ph.D. from New York and took college courses in the United States of America. She is hardworking, skilled, talented, professional, and committed to her assigned duties. She is doing a great job at the Department of English and Language Studies at the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Liberia.
According to the Dean of the College, Dr. Josephus M. Gray, it is remarkable to welcome such great academics, scholars, and professionals to join the academic team of the College. Dr. Gray further expressed joy that the eight new facilities give the college the space required to expand and fulfill its role in society. Dr. Gray, who expressed his enthusiasm for the hiring of such a diverse and talented group of academics, scholars, and professionals, said he is excited to work with them to help strengthen the college in several aspects.
Dr. Gray has expressed appreciation to the student-centered president of the University of Liberia, who is also a unique team player, Prof. Dr. Julius J. Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., who is truly a humanist and a well-balanced, independently driven administrator, for such appointments of high-quality, experienced individuals from a variety of backgrounds to join the College’s faculty and staff. Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College (formerly) has a proud history of providing courses that help communities grow and flourish, with a focus on combining practical knowledge with quality learning and teaching. Interestingly, it was the first to be established in the country with a clearly defined founding mission. The college remains driven by its commitment to society and is dedicated to providing quality programs and degrees in a flexible and supportive environment.
In a variety of disciplines, the College offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).The minimum number of credit hours needed for completion of a specialized degree program is 128. Students are voluntarily allowed to choose from the six academic departments to fulfill the 4-year baccalaureate degree requirements to earn a BA or BSW degree. Students can take up to 15 credits for each of the eight academic semesters at the college.
Eleven academic units from the six departments confer a four-year baccalaureate degree in specialized fields of study. They are: English and Literature, French Studies, Social Work, Demography, Geography, Sociology, Criminology, History, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. The non-degree-granting units are: physical education and sports; social science; arts and crafts; ROTC; and Liberian languages. The various departments and units have been merged into six to reflect the current dynamics across the world as higher education institutions (HEIs) recognize the fact that the world is changing very rapidly and increasingly. While the Criminology Program is the latest to be introduced as a degree-granting program,
Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities is an interesting academic environment. It’s a small, supportive community hosted under the single roof of the Academic Complex of the University of Liberia. It is just a place where anyone will soon know every face, and it’s the best place with a beautiful landscape and access to every possible amenity; but it sits at the heart of the university’s Fendall campus in Louisiana, Montserrado County, a few miles away from the capital.
The college has been successful in integrating research into all the degree-granting departments as a major requirement for completion. At Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College, faculties pursue a full range of research interests related to their own academic disciplines. The college has harmonized the various academic departments’ curricula and introduced a standardized research methodology course across the college. Students who successfully pass the research course are advanced for senior thesis writing or may undertake a senior project as a special requirement to fulfill the one-year baccalaureate degree requirements to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
The graduates of the college are making tremendous contributions to societies across the international sphere, with obvious outputs in numerous areas, including national development. Some have risen to serve as president, vice president, justices of the Supreme Court, ministers, senators, representatives, ambassadors, presidents of tertiary institutions, heads of public corporations, standard-bearers of political parties, academic directors, deans, and media experts.
The college also strives to be among the most innovative academic institutions in the world. It remains committed to empowering its students with the requisite knowledge and practical skills vital to achieving personal and professional success in the changing local and global communities in which they live, work, and compete in the job market. The College offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in several disciplines. The minimum number of credit hours needed for completion of a specialized degree program is 128. Students are voluntarily allowed to choose from the six academic departments to fulfill the 4-year baccalaureate degree requirements to earn a BA or BSW degree. Students can take up to 15 credits for each of the eight academic semesters at the college.
The college was successful in harmonizing the various academic departments’ curricula and successfully remodeling research methodology courses across the college to help sharpen the students’ skills and widen their horizons in research. Those who have successfully passed the research methodology studies are advanced for senior thesis writing or a research project. Our graduates earn BA and BSW degrees in English, French, demography, geography, sociology, social work, history, political science, communication, media studies, philosophy, religious studies, and criminology.
The College maintains academic excellence, quality teaching, broad-based research, and emphasizes professionalism, efficiency, and productivity. Currently, there are six (6) academic departments in the college. The idea to merge the departments from 15 to six was based on the official request of the college through a petition to the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) and Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia.
Eleven academic units from the six departments confer a four-year baccalaureate degree in specialized fields of study. They are: English and Literature, French Studies, Social Work, Demography, Geography, Sociology, Criminology, History, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. The non-degree-granting units are: physical education and sports; social science; arts and crafts; ROTC; and Liberian languages. The various departments and units have been merged into six to reflect the current dynamics across the world as higher education institutions (HEIs) recognize the fact that the world is changing very rapidly and increasingly. While the Criminology Program is the latest to be introduced as a degree-granting program,
At the college, three certificate and diploma programs are in place for capacity building and career development for others who, for whatever reason, may not want to pursue degree studies. The three programs are: (1) Joe W. Mulbah Center of Journalism and Public Relations (2) UL Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (3) Certificate in Statistics Program (CEST)
Since the college’s inception in 1862, the majority of its graduates have made significant contributions and are now providing invaluable services to various communities and societies around the world, with visible results. Some of the alumni of the college went on to serve as president and vice president of the Republic of Liberia, ministers, senators, representatives, ambassadors, bishops, legislators, foreign ministers, deputy ministers, commissioners, heads of public cooperation, standard-bearers of political parties, and religious leaders.
Others fruitfully moved onward to become presidents, vice presidents, deans, academic directors, and chairpersons of various departments at the University of Liberia. Currently, some of the graduates of the college are making tremendous contributions to global society and serving as engineers, pilots, lawyers, scientists, bankers, auditors, professors, managers, politicians, entrepreneurs, judges, military officers, law enforcement officers, policy-makers, media tycoons, and research fellows, among other professions.
