Hopkins Journeys - Charleston: The African American Experience
February 8 - 13, 2026
From $3,495
Sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Office of Alumni Relations, Lifelong Learning
Experience the rich history and cultural heritage of Charleston, SC, a city steeped in tradition, natural beauty, and military significance. Delve into its African American history and the legacy of the Gullah Geechee community, descendants of enslaved people from West and Central Africa.
Visit the International African American Museum, whose CEO and President is Hopkins alumna Dr. Tonya Matthews (Med PhD ‘06), to explore the lasting impact of these communities. Plans are to meet with her during the program. A deeply moving part of this journey is a visit to the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, a place of resilience and remembrance. Learn about its profound history and its role in the community. At the McLeod Plantation Historic Site and Boone Hall Plantation, gain insight into the lives and contributions of the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and worked there.
Celebrate the artistic traditions of the Gullah Geechee culture at the Gibbes Museum of Art, where you can admire the intricate sweetgrass baskets of renowned artisan Mary Jackson and the vibrant paintings of Jonathan Green. Savor the flavors of the region with included meals, and for those interested, participate in an optional cooking class to further explore Charleston’s culinary heritage.
Enjoy a special evening with Hopkins-area alumni in addition to a cultural program provided by Peabody Preparatory faculty member and alumna Dr. Jasmine Pigott (DMA ’24), who will focus on the spiritual music tradition of the South.
For additional trip details and to make a reservation through AHI International, call 800-323-7373 or click here.
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Hopkins Journeys are open to alumni, friends, parents, faculty and staff offering exceptional destinations, enlightened faculty experts and local guides, and like-minded traveling companions in an array of tours from deluxe and traditional to the exotic and adventurous. For Hopkins-related questions, please contact Marguerite Jones, Program Manager, A&S '74, Bus '88.
Dr. Jasmine Pigott, Peab '24 (DMA), Tuba Performer, Composer, and Educator
Dr. Jasmine Pigott is a tuba performer, composer, educator, and researcher based in Baltimore, MD. Her musical journey began in grade school, inspired by a cartoon character, and evolved into a mission to increase representation in classical music. She has presented solo recitals, masterclasses, and clinics across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. In 2020, she launched Revolution: The Next Generation of Tuba Music, commissioning and recording works in Black musical styles. Her recent research focuses on the preservation and use of Negro Spirituals in instrumental pedagogy. When not performing or speaking, Dr. Pigott teaches low brass at the Peabody Preparatory. She holds degrees from Ithaca College (B.M.), Michigan State University (M.M.), and the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University (D.M.A.).
Tonya Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), President & Chief Executive Officer of the International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina
Dr. Tonya M. Matthews is president and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM), which is located in Charleston, S.C. at the historically sacred site of Gadsden’s Wharf, one of our nation’s most prolific former slave ports. As a champion of authentic, empathetic storytelling of American history, IAAM is one of the nation’s newest platforms for the disruption of institutionalized racism as America continues the walk toward “a more perfect union.”
A thought-leader in inclusive frameworks, social entrepreneurship, and education, Matthews has written articles and book chapters across these varied subjects. She is founder of The STEMinista Project, a movement to engage girls in their future with STEM careers. Matthews is also a poet and is included in 100 Best African American Poems (2010), edited by Nikki Giovanni. Matthews received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and her B.S.E. in engineering from Duke University, alongside a certificate in African/African American Studies.
Can’t join us in Charleston this February? Or want a special preview of the 2026 trip?
Join us for a virtual Hopkins at Home conversation "Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: Unvarnished Stories from Charleston’s International African American Museum" with Dr. Tonya Matthews on Wednesday, July 17 from 9–10 AM (ET). Dr. Matthews will share how the IAAM is transforming trauma into truth—and truth into triumph—while challenging institutionalized racism and uplifting individual and collective narratives. Register here.