Parfait Kouacou

Parfait Kouacou is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages at Drexel University and serves as affiliated faculty in the Center for Intercultural Studies. With expertise in French and Francophone studies, Dr. Kouacou specializes in postcolonial African literature and cinema, alongside critical human rights theory. He is deeply passionate about exploring the intersection of postcolonial African narratives with contemporary global issues.

His research focuses on the representation of childhood in West African orature and literature, examining how these portrayals intersect with themes of human rights, modernity, and globalization. At Drexel University, Dr. Kouacou teaches courses related to French, Francophone studies, African literature, Cinema and global issues, actively engaging students in community-based learning projects. His commitment to community-engaged education was recognized with the Mark L. Greenberg Distinguished Faculty Award for Community-Based Learning.

Before joining Drexel, Dr. Kouacou worked as a human rights specialist for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire and as a journalist for the Associated Press. Throughout his career, he has published peer-reviewed articles, presented at international conferences, and received several grants and fellowships, the most recent being the HuMetricHSS Community Fellowship funded by the Mellon Foundation. Dr. Kouacou is committed to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and promoting an understanding of Francophone African cultures, while promoting cross-cultural connections.