Selected conference Presentations
Selected Conference Presentations & Workshops:
Norfolk State University - “Africa to America: The Odyssey of Slavery”
“Black Studies in Brown Spaces: The Benefits and Challenges of Teaching Black Studies at a Hispanic Serving Institution in Southern California” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) conference in San Jose, CA in March 2024.
“Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies” Roundtable with Sheba Lo, Lawrence M. Jackson, and Andrea Ringer at the National Association of African American Studies (NAAS) conference online in February 2022.
Was accepted to be the Chair and the Discussant on the panel “‘The Words I Manifest’: Teaching African Centered Writing and Composition to First Year Freshman in Africana Studies” featuring Anaya Galves, Savannah Elahian, and Keele Hein at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in March 2020.
Was accepted to present on the panel entitled "The Black House: Navigating the Field through Intersectionality in Scholarship, Alliance, and Activism" at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in March 2020.
Was accepted to be present “’Threat to Society’: The Safety of Black Studies Faculty on College Campuses Today” the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in March 2020.
"Black Is: Teaching African Centered Writing in a Black Studies Department" at the Re-Imagining the African American Cannon for Teaching Composition at HBCU's Conference in Atlanta, GA in September 2019.
“’All Black Everything’: The Connection and Influence of the Black Aesthetic on the African World” at the 8th Annual African Studies Symposium at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in April 2019.
“’Bases Loaded: The Present and Future State of Black Studies” at the Department of African American Studies at the University of Houston in April 2019.
“Is the Black Aesthetic Dead?”: Positing the Black Aesthetic in the Era of Trap Music, Twerking, and the Black Panther” at the African Heritage Studies Association Conference (AHSA) in Atlanta, GA in October 2018.
“Dear Black Studies Celebrities: Please Have a Seat, Preferably in Your University Classes” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Atlanta, GA in March 2018.
“How Do You Dismantle Black Studies in 2017?: Use Academic Terrorism” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Houston, TX in March 2017.
Panelist for “When the Dust Settles: JPAS in the Mix” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Houston, TX in March 2017.
“‘Round Pegs into Square Holes’: Teaching Black Studies in an African Centered Way at Predominantly White Institutions” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Charlotte, NC in March 2016.
“At the Forefront of Black Studies on all Educational Levels: Hosting Pre-K-12th Grade Teacher Training Workshops at the 2015 National Council for Black Studies Conference” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Charlotte, NC in March 2016.
“Saving the Past to Ensure the Future: A Short Film on the Annual International Authentic Katherine Dunham Seminar” at the Dancing the African Diaspora: Theories in Black Performance Conference at Duke University in Durham, NC in February 2016.
Workshop entitled “Continuing with the Vision of the Past: Teaching Black Studies in K-6th Grades” at the K-12 Teacher Training Workshops at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Los Angeles, CA in March 2015.
“Saving Our Museums and Landmarks: A New Call for Action and Activism in Black Studies” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Los Angeles, CA in March 2015.
“‘I Used to Love H.E.R.’: The Present State of Hip Hop Dance in L.A. and N.Y.C.” at the Dancing the African Diaspora Conference: Theories in Black Performance Conference at Duke University in Durham, NC in February 2014.
“Changing the State of Tomorrow Today: One Generation X’ers Journey to End Racism and White Supremacy in the Academy and Beyond” during the Generation X Roundtable at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) Conference in Washington, D.C. in April 2013.
“Continuing with the Vision of the Past: Teaching Black Studies in K-6th Grades” at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Indianapolis, IN in March 2013.
“Pencils and Pirouettes: The Politics of Black Women Writers and Choreographers” with Dr. Osizwe Eyidiyiye, Dr. Takiah Nur Amin, and Monique Johnson at the National Women’s Studies Association Conference in Atlanta, GA in November 2011.
“Reconceptualizing and Reinterpreting the Written Word: Using African/Black Psychological Theories to Analyze the African/Black Novel” at the National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Cincinnati, OH on March 2011.
“Travelling Down the Past Towards Literary Liberation: The Role of the African Worldview in Conducting an African Centered Analysis of Jacob’s Ladder” at The State of African American Studies: Methodology, Pedagogy, and Research Conference at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City on January 2011.
“Is the Black Aesthetic Dead?: Positing the Black Aesthetic as the Foundation for the Black Novel” at the Art and Power in Movement: An International Conference Rethinking The Black Power and Black Arts Movement Conference at U-Mass, Amherst on November 2010.
“’We Need to Stop Singing and Start Swinging’: The Present and Future State of the Discipline of African American Studies” at the National Association of African American Studies (NAAAS) Conference in Baton Rouge, LA in February 2010.
“The Triangle of Black Power: The Relationship between the Black Power Movement, the Black Arts Movement, and Black Studies” at the National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Atlanta, GA on March 2009.
“Dancing Across the Diaspora: Katherine Dunham’s Foundational Contributions to the Establishment of Black Studies in the Academy” at the Black Women in the Radical Tradition Conference at the City University of New York on March 28, 2009.
“Neglected and Misunderstood: Richard Wright’s Contributions and Present Day Exclusion from the Discipline of Black Studies” at the International Richard Wright Centennial Conference in Paris, France June 2008.
“How Difference Can Bring Us Closer Together: Understanding the Importance of Culture and Worldview to Everyday Life Interaction” at the upcoming Multiculturalism, Pluralism, and Globalization conference at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on October 2007 in La Crosse, WI.
“Neglected and Misunderstood: Richard Wright’s Contribution and Present Day Exclusion from the Discipline of Black Studies” at the American Literature Association Conference on May 2005 in Boston, MA.
“What It Is and What It Ain’t? Questioning the Structure of African American Literature as a Body of Knowledge in Black Studies” at Celebrating the African American Novel conference at Penn State University on April 2005 in State College, PA.
“Counterpointe: African American Ballet Dancers in Major Companies Discuss their Perspectives and Experiences” at the National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Atlanta, GA in March 2004.
A summary of my master’s thesis entitled “Two Steps Forward and One and a Half Steps Back: Maria Stewart and Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s Fight for Inclusion into Early Black Nationalism--1803-1893” at the National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Conference on March 2003 in Atlanta, GA
A summary of my master’s thesis entitled “Two Steps Forward and One and a Half Steps Back: Maria Stewart and Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s Fight for Inclusion into Early Black Nationalism--1803-1893 at the University of California-Los Angeles’ Thinking Gender Graduate Student Research Conference on March 2, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA.
On-Camera Interviews:
Panelist for “Africa to America: The Odyssey of Slavery” by the Voice of America (VOA) at Norfolk State University (August 2019)
Panelist for In Focus: Shaping California History, a Spectrum Television Show in Los Angeles, CA (February 2019)
Demonstrator/Participant in the story “Fitness Pro Says to Use Your Head to Reach Your Fitness Goals” by Lori Corbin for ABC 7 in Los Angeles (January 2018)
Guest Panelist for On Point television show moderated by Ebony Hardiman on Police Brutality Through the Media Lens (October 2016)
Guest Panelist for the On Point television show moderated by Daisy Lightfoot on Black Issues at CSUN and Beyond (November 2015)
Participant in the University Writing Program film where I was interviewed about the writing courses I teach in Africana Studies (spring 2013)
guest speaking engagements
“’Bases Loaded: The Present and Future State of Black Studies” at the Department of African American Studies at the University of Houston (April 2019).
“Is the Black Aesthetic Dead?”: Positing the Black Aesthetic in the Era of Trap Music, Twerking, and the Black Panther” at California State University, Northridge (February 2018).
“Memorable Movement: African/Black Dance as a Form of Resistance” at La Crosse Dance Centre in La Crosse, WI (March 2017).
“Katherine Dunham Film Screening and Discussion” at La Crosse Dance Centre in La Crosse, WI (March 2016
“Katherine Dunham Film Screening and Discussion” at California State University, Northridge (February 2016).
“Counterpointe: African American Ballet Dancers in Major Companies Discuss their Perspectives and Experiences” and “‘I Used to Love H.E.R.’: The Present State of Hip Hop Dance in L.A. and N.Y.C” at La Crosse Dance Centre in La Crosse, Wisconsin (April 2015).
“Existing Indifference and Apathetical Behaviorisms from the Past Stigma of America’s Slavery” at the Second Annual Africa Maafa Remembrance Day presented by the Sankofa African Heritage Awareness, Inc. in Cheyenne, Wyoming (April 2013).
selected workshops
“Contributing to the Liberation of African People” for the University Counseling Services Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers at California State University, Northridge (2024)
“Free Your Mind and Your Spirit Will Follow: An In-Depth Discussion on the Ancient African Civilization of Kmt (Egypt)” at the Black Youth Guidance Forum at California State University, Northridge (February 2022)
“Language for Liberation” for Lift Wellness Consulting, LLC with Dr. Kate Steiner (July 2020).
“Black Lives Matter and the Reality of White Privilege” Monthly Book Club for Private Group (2020-2021)
“USU: Identity and Privilege Workshop” for the University Student Union at California State University, Northridge (July 2020)
“Talk the ISH Out of It: How Do We Discuss Difficult Issues?” for the GROOV3 Dance Community (June 2020).
“How to Write in a Culturally Centered Way” for students in the Social Science Writing Project at California State University, Northridge (April 2019)
“Free Your Mind and Your Spirit Will Follow: An In-Depth Discussion on the Ancient African Civilization of Kmt (Egypt)” for 6-12th grades at the Black Youth Guidance Forum at California State University, Northridge (February 2018)
“Creating a Clear Path Towards Liberation: Ideas and Strategies on How to Mentor, Advise, and Teach Black Students in an African Centered Way” at the Black Youth Guidance Forum at California State University, Northridge (February 2017)
“The Language of Liberation: How to Write in a Culturally Centered Way” for students for the Social Science Writing Project at California State University, Northridge (April 2016)
“Creating a Clear Path Towards Liberation: Ideas and Strategies on How to Mentor, Advise, and Teach Black Students in an African Centered Way” at the Black Youth Guidance Forum at California State University, Northridge (February 2016)
“Free Your Mind and Your Spirit Will Follow: An In-Depth Discussion on the Ancient African Civilization of Kmt (Egypt)” for 6-12th grades at the Black Youth Guidance Forum at California State University, Northridge (February 2016)
“A Critique of Love: Providing Positive, Constructive, and Effective Feedback to your Students’ Writing” for university faculty for the Social Science Writing Project at California State University, Northridge (November 2015 and January 2016)
“How to Teach Black Studies in K-12” at the K-12 Teacher Training Workshops at the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA (2015)
“Inclusive Teaching” at the New Faculty Fall Seminar and the Graduate Teaching Seminar at the University of Wyoming (2011)
“Racial Diversity and Living in a Multicultural Society” for Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at the University of Wyoming (2010)