Friday Focus: The power of sankofa
January 8, 2021
— by Keith Champagne, vice chancellor for student affairs
“Sankofa” is a concept from King Adinkera, of the Akan tribe in West Africa. The literal translation of the word is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” The Akan believe that knowing about and learning from the past can help us plan for the future.
I reflect on the power of sankofa as I remember the past 10 months and how we as a university adapted and adjusted to a new kind of campus ecosystem brought on by the global pandemic. We were able to successfully open our institution because we all worked together across divisions, departments, organizational charts and silos to serve all of our constituents and stakeholders in a positive and seamless manner.
As we begin the New Year and prepare for a post-vaccine and post-pandemic campus, I am asking all of us at UAF to take a moment to think about who and what we were as a university before this global pandemic and during this disruptive and difficult period. In addition, please think about where and what we are today as an institution, and what our vision is for the future.
Our continuous sojourn through this COVID-19 pandemic and daily triage is accurately reflecting on our work and who we are as students, faculty, staff, administrators and a university community. We have been and continue to benefit from the awesome and powerful affirmation, guide and reminder of the significance of our work as members of an excellent public research institution.
Moreover, as we lean into this new year and new spring semester, I am requesting that all of us who are fortunate and honored to be in leadership positions at the university to focus on being compassionate leaders going forward. Remember, as leaders, please grant yourselves some grace during this period of disruption, uncertainty and difficulty. We also need to remain resilient, possess a magnificent sense of hope, and maintain personal well-being. Additionally, focus on how we as a university community will envision and accomplish holistic healing across the campus.
Furthermore, reaching back to knowledge gained in the past and bringing it into the present and future in order to make positive change is indeed progress.
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week. On occasion, a guest writer is invited to contribute a column.