Sawyer College Students At UL Laud Thesis Defense Reactivation… As Sociology, Demography Students Stay Away

MONROVIA: Prospective graduates of Professor Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Liberia (UL), recently shared Joys of Milestones after successful participation in a week-long thesis presentation and final oral defense.

The academic exercise which officially started on April 11, 2023, concluded on April 24, 2023, with a formal program organized by the Office of the Dean of the College to articulate achievable knowledge, objectives, and skills.

The Dean of the College, Prof./ Dr. Josephus M. Gray, praised the candidates for successful participation in the final thesis oral defense and presentation of their research studies.

Dr. Gray reminded the candidates that at Sawyer College, there are no shortcuts to any place worth going. He said the candidates have chosen to be extraordinary.

” You made the President of the university proud; you made your Dean proud, you made your Chairpersons proud, you made your Family and Friends proud,” he pointed out.

The Dean continued: “I can’t imagine how proud you must be to submit to this academic exercise and defend your research studies.”

Prior to the formal closing program, eight candidates from the Department of Communication and Media Studies (formerly Department of Mass Communication) successfully participated in the final thesis defense with great presentations and discussions about their studies.

The candidates spoke about the key findings of their studies in front of the 7-Member Thesis Committee, headed by Assistant Prof. Alexander O. Teaway.

Besides the candidates from the Department of Communication and Media Studies, other

Candidates from the Departments of Geography, English and Language Studies, Social Work, History and Political Science successfully participated in the final thesis oral defense with great presentations in front of the thesis committee and audience including faculty, staffs, and students.

So far, only candidates from the Departments of Sociology and Demography deliberately failed to participate in the academic exercise which is one of the basic components and requirements as contained in the curricula of the various departments and units for students of Amos C. Sawyer College to successfully earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. No reasons have been given for their action.

Unfortunately, thesis writing, and defense have been dormant in the College for years, but as the University of Liberia has prestigiously positioned itself on a path of new academic trajectory under the leadership of its students-faculty centered President, Prof./ Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, the Dean and Academic Team of Sawyer College have reactivated the writing of thesis, students’ projects, seminar, and defense to a professional standard.

 The candidates are given an opportunity to write, present and defense their research studies before other academic Seven-man Academic Committee headed by Assistant Professor Alexander O. Teaway. Other members are  Dr. D. Elliott Wreh-Wilson, Dr. Nathaniel G. Gbessagee, Cllr. Mark Bedor-Wla Freeman, Mrs. Roseline Tomah, Mr. Leviticus O. Kollie, Mr. Ernest Winderburk, Mr. Abraham Fofana and Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray, ex-officio.

The exercise started Tuesday, April 11 and ended on Monday, April 24, 2023, with candidates from the Department of Communication and Media Studies presenting and defending their theses in the Thelma E. Duncan Sawyer Faculty Lounge, Fendall.

The thesis defense proceeded very well with support from the various departments and units with about 60 faculty, staffs and students attended each session to witness the unique exercise.