Student Organizations

The African Female Student Empowerment Program (AFSEP) was established in 2016 by three MSU faculty and staff members:  Damaris Choti, Sheba Onchiri, and Ruth Mbabazi. The program fosters peer mentorship, leadership development, and community building among African female students.

AFSEP was founded in recognition that African female students’ socialization and cultural backgrounds can influence how they navigate university life, seek mentorship, build professional networks, and pursue leadership opportunities in a different cultural environment.

The African Graduate Students Association (AGSA) was established in 2015 under the leadership of the African Studies Center at Michigan State University (MSU). It provides a forum for African and Africanist graduate students to exchange ideas and explore issues related to Africa’s development through research and scholarship. AGSA also serves as a networking platform, supporting students’ social, professional, and leadership growth.

Activities include:

• Monthly Meetings focused on networking and professional development.
• Annual Research Conference for African and Africanist graduate students to present their research and share academic and community development projects.
• Social events that include an annual fall welcome for new and current students and scholars.

You can connect with AGSA via email, Instagram or Facebook.

The African Student Union (ASU) is the oldest Africa-oriented student organization at Michigan State University, with a longstanding commitment to fostering Pan-African unity, promoting Afrocentric intellectual engagement, and empowering future leaders to contribute to Africa’s socioeconomic, political, and cultural development. ASU’s membership consists primarily of undergraduate students, but graduate students are also welcome to join.

You can connect with ASU via email, X or Facebook.

The Council of Graduate Students is an authorized student government on campus representing our graduate/professional students at various levels across Michigan State University. Our mission is to improve and advance graduate education in order to ensure the vitality of intellectual discovery.

COGS accomplishes its mission through advocacy, innovative research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.

Supporting education is critical to achieving the highly skilled workforce needed for the U.S. to compete effectively in the 21st century global economy.

The Muslim Students Association (MSA) brings Muslim students together on campus and helps educate both Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam. The MSA is a community that welcomes students who are interested in learning more about Islam and connecting with others on campus.

You can find more information about MSA on Facebook.

The Somali Association of Michigan (SAM) is a student-led volunteer organization dedicated to helping all Somali students and families in the greater Lansing and East Lansing area through free basic social service including youth and educational programs to improve the social conditions of the Somali people. The organization also brings awareness of the Somali culture and history through events and social activities.

You can find more information about SAM on Facebook.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kongamano operated as a registered student organization (RSO) affiliated with the African Studies Center (ASC) at Michigan State University. It partnered with ASC to host one of the Center’s signature events, the African Tea Time, and organized activities that promoted awareness and appreciation of Africa rich cultural diversity, vibrant experiences, and often underrepresented perspectives.

We are inviting interested students to sign up and help reactivate Kongamano.