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

Bio coming soon! 

Casey Klemmer (he/him), Graduate Assistant

Casey is the Graduate Assistant for AAAS in the 2022-23 school year. He received his B.A. in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Women and Gender Studies in the Fall of 2021, and he is currently pursuing his MAIS in Social Justice and Human Rights. He is also working on a graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies.

His research interests focus on experiences of migration for refugees and asylum seekers, specifically for transgender and LGBTQ populations. His capstone project will result in the creation of a training module for US Customs and Immigration Officers to better serve transgender migrants to the United States. Casey also works for the Women and Gender Studies Center as the Lead Program Advisor. In his free time Casey likes to knit and hang out with his dog. 

Delina Kiflom (she/her), Office Assistant

Delina is a Junior Computer Science major with a minor in Software Engineering. She is from Ethiopia and Eritrea but grew up in Northern Virginia. She currently works as an office assistant in the African and African American Studies Office and enjoys learning about AFAM topics. In her free time, she enjoys quality time with her friends, cooking, and nature.

Faeven Dereje (she/her), Office Assistant

Faeven is a sophomore 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.

Kashmere Venable (she/her), Office Assistant

Kashmere's hometown is Washington, DC. She is a sophomore and her major is Community Health with a concentration in Nutrition. Her favorite hobby is trying new restaurants. Yes, she is a foodie! She also loves to go to the movies as well.