Meet the Staff

Meet the African and African American Studies Staff! 

Dr. LaNitra Berger, Director

Dr. Berger is director of African and African American Studies and an associate professor of history and art history at George Mason University. From 2010-2022, she was the senior director of the Office of Fellowships at Mason. Throughout her career, she has worked toward helping underrepresented students gain access to transformational education abroad opportunities and careers in public service. She is the recipient of the Spirit of King Award (2015) and the Margaret C. Howell Award (2018) at Mason. Dr. Berger received her MA and PhD in art history from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in art history and international relations from Stanford University.

Dr. Berger is affiliate faculty in the Center for Mason Legacies and the Department of History and Art History at Mason, where she teaches classes on African and African American art, museum curating, and South African history and culture. As an art historian, her research focuses on the intersections of art and social activism in the Black and Jewish diasporas. In 2018, she designed and led a study abroad course in South Africa called, “Monuments, Museums, and Memory in South Africa” that challenged students to look at the intersections of art and social activism in public monuments and memorials. She is the author of the NAFSA guide, “Exploring Education Abroad: A Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minority Participants.” She is also the editor of the book, “Social Justice and International Education: Research, Practice, and Perspectives,”published by NAFSA. Her first monograph, Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of Color was published by Bloomsbury in December 2020. 

In 2021, she was elected President and Board Chair of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Dr. Berger also serves on several education abroad advisory boards, the AIFS academic advisory board, and Globalize DC. 

Juton Myers (she/her), Program Coordinator

Juton Myers (she/her) is the Program Coordinator for African and African American Studies and Women and Gender Studies. She advises the AAAS Minor and teaches English Composition. Juton also serves as the Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color Initiative Advisor for the LGBTQ+ Resources Center. A proud first-generation graduate, she holds an M.A. in Creative Writing with a concentration in Fiction, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Wilkes University, and a Bachelor's Degree in English and Liberal Studies.

Outside of her academic and professional work, Juton enjoys traveling, writing, spending time with family, and embracing new adventures.

Faeven Dereje (she/her), Office Assistant

Faeven is asenior pursuing a major in Government and International Politics with a concentration in American Government and double minors in Legal studies and African American studies. She serves as the Philanthropist for the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association as well as the Community Service Chair for NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). 

Faeven is from Alexandria, Virginia. A fun fact about her is that she is into shoes such as Jordans. Her biggest passions are activism and advocating for those who are unable to which resulted in her motivation to become a lawyer in the future. In her free time, Faeven enjoys reading about topics such as racism, anti-Blackness, misogyny, feminism, etc.

Max Applbaum, Office Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!

Jean Flagg, Office Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!