Jean Ouedraogo

Jean Ouedraogo serves as the Eleanor Howard O'Leary Chair in French & Francophone Studies and Program Director of French & Francophone Studies at the College of the Holy Cross within the Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures. He is a prominent scholar specializing in Francophone African and Caribbean studies with particular expertise in literature and cinema from these regions.

Dr. Ouedraogo earned his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia-Athens, establishing the foundation for his distinguished academic career focused on African and Caribbean cultural production. His scholarly trajectory demonstrates deep engagement with postcolonial studies and Francophone cultural expressions across continents.

His research interests center on African and Caribbean Francophone Literatures and Cultures, with significant contributions to the study of African Cinema. Ouedraogo's work bridges literary analysis with film studies, examining how cultural narratives manifest across different media in Francophone contexts. He has made notable contributions to understanding the intersections between Anglophone and Francophone African literary traditions, creating a more holistic view of the continent's diverse cultural expressions.

His recent publications demonstrate a trend toward biographical and theoretical explorations of African cultural production, with a 2024 monograph on Burkinabe filmmaker Sanou Kollo Daniel and a 2022 edited volume examining conceptual passages in African literatures and cultures. These works reflect his ongoing commitment to documenting and analyzing the evolving landscape of African cultural expression.

• Fulbright Scholarship for teaching and research at Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (2015-2016)
• US State Department Youth Leadership Programs grant valued at $328,000 (2011-2013)
• SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative activity (2011)
• SUNY Chancellor's Award for Internationalization (2005 & 2011)
• President of the Francophone Caucus of the African Literature Association (2008-2009)

As Program Director of French & Francophone Studies, Ouedraogo has secured significant external funding including a $328,000 grant from the US State Department for leadership programs with Francophone Africa. His professional leadership extends to serving as President and Vice President of the Francophone Caucus of the African Literature Association, demonstrating his influence in shaping scholarly discourse in his field. While specific advising information isn't detailed in the available materials, his role as a chaired professor suggests substantial mentorship of students in French and Francophone Studies.