Brandi Waters

Brandi Waters is an American educator who is best known for her role as the executive director of the AP African American Studies program created by College Board.[1]

Brandi Waters
Born
Philadelphia, PA
EducationYale University (Ph.D.)
The Johns Hopkins University (M.A.)
Harvard University (M.A)
University of Pennsylvania (B.A.)
OccupationEducator

Early life

Waters was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, her Master of Arts in Latin American history from Johns Hopkins University, and her Master of liberal arts from Harvard University. Waters earned her PhD from Yale University in 2021 in a combined PhD program in Latin American history and African American studies.[2] Her dissertation was titled, "Defects": Slavery, Disability, Doctors, and the Law in Late Colonial Cartagena and Philadelphia."[3]

Career
Waters (right) with David Coleman (left), Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham (second to left), Henry Louis Gates Jr., (third from left), and Robert J. Patterson (third from right).

In April 2021, Waters became the director of AP African American Studies, the new college-level course for advanced-placement students in high school. The course was created by College Board.[4][5] In August 2022, she transitioned to the title of senior director and program manager of AP African American Studies.[6][7] In various media interviews, Waters advocated for the course, citing the importance of American students learning about African culture, history, linguistics, art and economics, and enslavement, including the role of Black Africans in that tragedy.[8] In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Waters explained that research among university professors and higher-ed groups showed that the field of Black studies has gained increased attention in the past decade, which she said justified the creation of a new source-analysis based AP course.[5] Waters oversaw the development of the pilot course and the release of the official curriculum. In an interview on CBS Mornings with Tony Dokoupil and Gayle King, Waters explained that the official curriculum was created after talking with teachers, students, and professional academics. Waters defended the course's necessity in American academics, citing a greater need for the teaching of Black history in American schools.[9][10] In February 2022, Florida governor Ron DeSantis blocked the course, citing a lack of educational value.[11] After the College Board released the official course framework following DeSantis' announcement, the New York Times accused the organization of stripping down the course curriculum to appease conservatives.[12] Waters responded by asserting that the "College Board does not bend to politics,"[13] that the curriculum was already decided prior to DeSantis' blocking of the course, and that the Times article was not factual.[14]

See also

References
  1. Sloan, Christine (1 February 2023). "College Board's new AP African American studies curriculum criticized by some as appeasing conservatives". Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. "Brandi Waters". Yale MacMillan Center. yale.edu. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. "Brandi Waters". Brandi Waters International Dissertation Research Fellowship. Yale University. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. Kelly, Mary Louise. "College Board responds to backlash over AP African American studies curriculum". NPR.org. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. "AP African American Studies course framework released". PBS Newshour. PBS. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  6. "AP African American Studies: Course Framework and Exam Overview" (PDF). www.theflstandard.com. The Florida Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. ""Who Tells Our Story" Expert panelist will discuss this question from various viewpoints". youtube.com. Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  8. Nehemiah, Frank; Walker, Ezekiel (1 February 2023). "College Board defends AP African American studies course". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. CBS Mornings. "College Board officials reveal controversial African American studies course content". youtube.com.
  10. Novak, Analisa. "Head of the College Board says new AP curriculum for African American Studies "hides from nothing"". CBS News.
  11. Contorno, Steve (2023-01-19). "DeSantis administration rejects proposed AP African American Studies class in Florida high schools | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  12. Anemona, Hartocollis. "The College Board Strips Down Its A.P. Curriculum for African American Studies". New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  13. Penny, Samara. "College Board Clarifies for AASA Attendees Its Content of New AP African American Studies Course". nce.aasa.org. National Conference on Education.
  14. Sloan, Christine. "College Board's new AP African American studies curriculum criticized by some as appeasing conservatives". www.cbsnews.com. CBS New York. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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