MONROVIA – The Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia has marked a historic milestone with the induction of the inaugural leadership of the Amos C. Sawyer Student Association. The ceremony was held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Theatre of the University of Liberia’s Fendell Campus in Louisiana, Montserrado County.
The induction represents the first formal student association in the College’s 163-year history since its establishment in 1862. University officials and students described the occasion as the beginning of a new chapter in the governance and representation of students within one of Liberia’s oldest academic institutions.
Founded in 1862 as a Liberal Arts College, the institution was created to confer four-year bachelor’s degrees with an emphasis on broad-based education in the social sciences, arts, and humanities. Over the decades, the College has evolved in name and structure, transitioning from Liberal Arts College to Liberia College and later to its current identity as the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The College currently offers a wide range of academic disciplines, including Political Science, English, Sociology, Criminology, Geography, Fine and Performing Arts, Chinese Language and Culture, French Studies, Social Work, Demography, History, Communication and Media Studies, Psychology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
Administrators have disclosed that the College is also considering the introduction of graduate programs, including Master of Science degrees in Sociology, Communication, and Professional Writing, as well as a Master of Social Work program. These proposed additions are intended to strengthen academic offerings and expand opportunities for advanced study.
The Amos C. Sawyer College is recognized as the fourth oldest college in Africa, the second oldest tertiary institution in West Africa, and the first institution of higher learning established in Liberia. Its long-standing legacy has played a central role in shaping Liberia’s intellectual, political, and social landscape.
Throughout its history, the College has been served by 17 deans, including four women and 13 men. The current Dean is Associate Professor Dr. Josephus Gbala-hinnih Moses Gray, a 2001 graduate of the institution. Records show that the first Dean of the College was Dr. Anna Cooper, while President Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a former President of Liberia, served as the first President of Liberia College.
The newly established student association aligns with the vision of University of Liberia President, Professor Dr. Layli Maparyan, which emphasizes student success, academic excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency. The association is expected to play a key role in strengthening student engagement and leadership development within the College.
According to its mandate, the Amos C. Sawyer Student Association will represent the collective interests of students, provide a platform for student governance, foster unity, and promote a professional and inclusive academic environment. Its core objective is to support an enabling learning atmosphere and advance holistic student welfare.
The leadership and membership of the Association are drawn from various academic departments within the College and reflect gender balance. The Association recently adopted its constitution under the guidance of the Office of Student Affairs, with technical support from an external legal expert, laying the foundation for structured and accountable student governance moving forward.
