Skip To Translation Selection Skip To Top Navigation Skip To Content Skip To Footer
Campus Alert
Facilities Emergency and Operational Update, Tuesday, Oct. 20

This morning, UDC was notified of a power outage affecting Building 47, with simultaneous outages reported in Buildings 38 and 39. At approximately 6 a.m., DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the Van Ness campus following an alarm activation. While their investigation continues, power remains unavailable in Buildings 32, 38, 39, 42, 44, 46 and 47.

There is no disruption to operations at the Student Center (4200 Connecticut Ave.), Student Success Center (4225 Connecticut Ave.), Building 71 (4250 Connecticut Ave.), or the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (4340 Connecticut Ave.).

Academic Operations

  • Students scheduled for 8 a.m. classes should report to Building 71.
  • Classes beginning at 9:30 a.m. and later will transition to Emergency Remote Instruction (ERI).
  • Classes at the Law School, Community College, Congress Heights, and the DCA Aviation Hangar will continue as scheduled.

Administrative Operations

  • All administrative functions will operate remotely until further notice.

 

For Faculty and Staff

  • Staff should contact their immediate supervisor for guidance regarding remote work expectations.
  • Faculty should contact their dean or supervisor for instructions related to ERI. The Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) is available to support instructional continuity, including Blackboard, Zoom, Webex, and other teaching technologies.

 

CAL Faculty Support Resources

 

For Students

Due to this facilities emergency, the university will suspend in-person operations beginning at 9:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Instruction will continue remotely through synchronous and asynchronous methods. Courses requiring in-person laboratory, clinical, or hands-on instruction may require make-up sessions; however, every effort will be made to maintain instructional continuity through virtual learning. Faculty conducting synchronous instruction should adhere to published class meeting times to minimize disruption to student schedules.

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and community remain our highest priority. Additional updates regarding academic and administrative operations for the remainder of the week will be provided by close of business today.

Please continue to monitor the university website and official social media channels for the latest information.

For safety concerns, contact OPSEM at 202-274-5050. For emergencies, call 911.

Thank you for your flexibility, cooperation and continued commitment to UDC and our students.

University of the District of Columbia Facebook University of the District of Columbia Instagram University of the District of Columbia LinkedIn University of the District of Columbia Twitter/X University of the District of Columbia YouTube
Faculty & Staff Directory

Olive Vassell

Olive Vassell

Professor

Arts and Humanities
College of Arts and Sciences

Contact Information
202-274-7371
Van Ness Campus, Building 42

Olive Vassell is a faculty member in the Division of Arts & Humanities at UDC, specializing in Digital Media. Vassell has extensive experience in research, focusing on Black Britain and Black Europe. She has contributed to several publications, including Mapping Black Europe: Monuments, Markers, Memories, and serves as a reviewer for various academic organizations. Her work also includes supervising students in investigative journalism courses and establishing international partnerships. She has received several recognitions, including the Accomplishment in Research/Scholarship Award from UDC in 2024.

Experience

Education

Master of Arts in International Journalism, City University, London, UK 
Postgraduate Certificate, International Journalism, City University, London, UK 
Bachelor of Arts in French and Arabic, Westminster University, London UK 

Roles

Peer Reviewer, Fulbright Specialist Program, 2024-Present 
Grant Reviewer, Humanities D.C., 2024-Present 
Member, HBCU Consortium Committee, Center for Journalism & Democracy, 2024-Present 
SME Reviewer, Quality Matters, Indiana University, 2019 
Review Committee Member, National Newspaper Publishers Association, 2017, 2018, 2021-22 
Conference Paper Reviewer, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2017, 2021, 2022 

Courses Taught

Media Literacy & History 
Portfolio Project 
Data Journalism 
Magazine Writing 
Copy Editing 
Web Journalism 
Media Ethics 
Fundamentals of Journalism 
Publication Lab 
Fundamentals of Journalism 
Reporting 
Field Reporting 

Expertise

Supervising UDC students in Center for Journalism & Democracy Investigative Journalism course 

Creating MOUs with local and foreign institutions and organizations, including the Institut Supérieur de l’Information et de la Communication, Rabat, Morocco, and Humanities D.C. 

Research Focus / Works in Progress

Black Britain; Black Europe; qualitative Inquiry 

Leadership

Specialist, Fulbright Program, 2022 

Impact

Selected Publications

Kelly, N., & Vassell, O. (Eds.). (2023). Mapping Black Europe: Monuments, markers, memories. Columbia University Press. 

Vassell, O. (2020). The Black British and Irish press. In M. Conboy, A. Bingham, A. Ackerley, & C. Shoop-Worrall (Eds.), The Edinburgh history of the British and Irish press, Vol. 1. Edinburgh University Press.  

Selected Presentations

Vassell, O. (2024). Best Practices in teaching with technology and micro-credentials at HBCUs. Broadcast Education Association, Las Vegas, Nevada.  

Vassell, O. (2023). Memory culture in Black communities in Europe. Oslo Museum, Oslo, Norway. 

Vassell, O. (2023). Best practices for online learning. Howard University Center for Online Learning, Washington, D.C. 

Selected Grants

United States State Department. (2024). Inspiring Diplomatic and Educational Advancement for Students (IDEAS) Grant. 

Center for Journalism & Democracy. (2024). Newroom innovation grant. 

Creative Impact Fund. (2023). Innovation grant. 

Recognitions

Accomplishment in Research/Scholarship Award, College of Arts & Sciences, UDC, 2024 
Scholar of Promise Award, College of Arts & Sciences, UDC, 2012 
Moneith Award, College of Arts & Sciences, UDC, 2012

Invited Participations 

Vassell, O. (2024). Presenter. Fulbright Alumni Association, Virtual. 
Vassell, O. (2023). Presenter. Fulbright Alumni Association, Virtual. 
Vassell, O. (2023). Presenter. Young, Gifted, & Black, Virtual. 
Vassell, O. (2020). Presenter. University of Copenhagen, Virtual.
Vassell, O. (2019). Presenter. British Council, Washington, D.C.