Residencies

In 2022, award-winning author and journalist A’Lelia Bundles was named the inaugural Prestigious Fellow in the Center for Africana Studies and Culture in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis. She continues in that role.

Bundles’ contributions focus on her strengths, expertise, and interests by engaging in innovative programming and public scholarship. This includes the establishment of the Bundles Scholars, a Bundles Lecture Series, and an “In Conversation with A’Lelia” discussion series.

As Bundles Scholars, two Africana Studies students engage in scholarly research of Black issues with mentorship from Bundles and other Africana Studies faculty. The Bundles Lecture Series focuses on globally oriented Black history, culture, and other under-disciplined areas. The conversation series focuses specifically on Black Indianapolis history and culture as a part of the Africana Studies Presents series, in collaboration with the Madam Walker Legacy Center.

Through her work as an author and journalist, Bundles has also conveyed the Black experience and history through her book about the iconic women in her family, “On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker,” which is a reflection on her great-great-grandmother’s life and legacy; and her work, “The Joy Goddess of Harlem: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance,” focuses on her grandmother and namesake’s life.

“On Her Own Ground” was the foundation for the Netflix miniseries of the same name about Madam C.J. Walker’s life. Researching and sharing the true history of Black people in America is a passion and mission Bundles shares with the center.

Bundles spent 30 years in broadcast journalism, holding numerous positions with ABC and NBC News. She is a vice chair emerita of Columbia University’s board of trustees and chair emerita of the National Archives Foundation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Renowned Indianapolis-based jazz musician Rob Dixon is the inaugural Artist in Residence for the Center for Africana Studies and Culture in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis. He is in residence for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.

In this role, Dixon serves as an ambassador for CASC and promotes the proliferation of public-facing events and creative activity as an outlet for artistic expression on the Indiana University Indianapolis campus and in the community.

Dixon, a tenor saxophonist who moved to the top of the New York City jazz scene before moving back to Indianapolis in 2003, continues to work with internationally renowned artists while also serving as an adjunct professor at IU Indianapolis and jazz studies lecturer at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music. He is the founder of the ensemble Triology as well as the Indianapolis Jazz Collective, an ensemble that has recorded an album titled “Jazz on Canvas'' and includes pianist Steve Allee, bassist Nick Tucker, Trumpeter Marlin McKay, and drummer Kenny Phelps. He also serves as the Artistic Director for Indy Jazz Fest, and mentors the Jazz Futures, an Indianapolis Jazz Foundation-sponsored ensemble comprised of talented high school students. Dixon, who studied at Hampton University and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, continues to perform, and tour frequently in the United States and abroad.

This project is made possible with generous funding from the Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute and the Indianapolis Foundation.

Award-winning young adult, horror, fantasy, and science fiction author Maurice Broaddus is the inaugural Writer in Residence for the Center for Africana Studies & Culture (CASC) in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis. Mr. Broaddus is also a community organizer and a teacher and librarian at the Oaks Academy Middle School where he led the effort to restore its historic Dunbar Library. He also founded and is the curator of the writers’ conference, MoCon, which brings together creatives, to continue to build the writing community and celebrate them. Mr. Broaddus is also the resident Afrofuturist for the Kheprw Institute. Some of his awards include the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards in Genre, presented by Indiana Humanities for his novel, Pimp My Airship, and A Children & Young Adult Literary Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. In 2023, he was selected as one of the 250 most influential business leaders in Indiana by the Indianapolis Business Journal. As CASC’s Writer in Residence, Dr. Broaddus will work closely with Dr. Ronda Henry, professor of African American Literature and Africana Studies, to develop writing experiences for community members, consult on CASC arts and humanities initiatives, and convene the upcoming CASC-sponsored Afrofuturism Literature Symposium planned for late 2025. Mr. Broaddus joins CASC Prestigious Fellow A’Lelia Bundles and CASC Artist in Residence Rob Dixon in the Center's residency initiative.