Dr. Frank O. Arasanyin


Dr. Frank Olaoba Arasanyin died Feb. 10, 2012, at his home in Harrisonburg. He was the husband of Victoria N. Arasanyin and the father of Folasade, his daughter, and Olufemi, his son, all residing in Harrisonburg.

Professor Frank Olaoba Arasanyin was born Oct. 10, 1954, at Afa, Okeagbe, Ondo State, Nigeria, to the Royal family of His Highness late Ezekiel O Arasanyin and Princess Salamotu Arasanyin née Alilu (deceased).

He was the lecturer and director of curriculum in languages and applied linguistics in the Department of Languages and Linguistics University of Jos. A senior lecturer in African American Studies at Yale University, New Haven, Conn., for 10 years. He also taught briefly at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Conn. From 2001 to 2010, he rose from assistant to associate professor at Georgia Southern University while serving as the coordinator of curriculum and program development. In 2010, he joined the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication at James Madison University as a full professor. In 2011, he was appointed as director of the graduate program and chair of the Schools Curriculum Committee.

Frank published widely in his field. His books included a Yoruba-English Living English Dictionary (Yale UP) and “Shifting the Center of Africanism in Language Politics and Economic Globalization.” He also published dozens of articles, gave even more conference presentations, and wrote several successful grants. From 2002 through 2012, he reviewed grant applications for the U.S. Department of Education.

He and his family attended Grace Covenant Church.

Surviving, in addition to his wife and children, are his brothers, Stephen Arasanyin of New Jersey and Alex Arasanyin, and his sister, Moradeke Akingbade, both of New York.

A service of songs will be conducted 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. The family will receive visitation from 5 to 6 p.m. prior to the service.

The funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Grace Covenant Church in Harrisonburg. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

For additional information, please visit www.ilasting.com/frankarasanyin.php.