RI’s Brown University names hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean visiting fellow in Africana studies

Wyclef Jean named fellow at RI’s Brown University

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s Brown University says hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean (WY’-klef zhahn) has accepted an appointment as a visiting fellow in its Department of Africana Studies for the 2010-11 academic year.

The Ivy League school says the Haitian Grammy Award winner will engage in activities related to its Haiti Initiative, including lectures, faculty conversations and classes.

Brown says Jean made his first visit to campus Monday and attended two inaugural lecturers.

The 37-year-old singer says his time at Brown will be “a period of learning and reflection.”

Jean announced a bid for Haiti’s presidency in August but ended it last month. No official reasons were given for his exclusion although he’s presumed not to have met constitutional requirements such as living in Haiti.

Jean grew up in New York and lives in New Jersey.