Brinda J. Mehta, a professor of French and Francophone studies at Mills College in Oakland, California, was selected as the recipient of the 2016 Book of the Year Award from the African Literature Association. The award is given to the author of an outstanding book in African literary studies. Professor Mehta will be honored at the African Literature Association conference in Atlanta in April.
Professor Mehta is being honored for her book Dissident Writings of Arab Women: Voices Against Violence (Routledge, 2014). The 282-page book examines Arab women’s novels, short stories, poems, and other writings written over the span of a half century.
“This award is for the women in the book, not me,” Professor Mehta said. “These women were willing to risk their lives to write about social and political issues, the human condition, and the need for social justice and accountability.”
Professor Mehta has served on the Mills College faculty for 23 years. She was promoted to full professor in 2001 and currently serves as chair of the department of languages.