CV
I am an interdisciplinary scholar, teacher, and multimedia artist. My scholarship and creative practices bridge media studies, Black feminist studies, digital humanities, and ethnography with documentary mediamaking.
Informed by these practices, since 2005, I have worked to better attend to stories of Black life across the diaspora with a particular focus on lesser known U.S. American experiences of Black life in regions such as the Gulf Coast and Rust Belt. In 2021, I was awarded the Race and Technology Practitioner Fellowship at Stanford University to develop a digital toolkit to advance racial justice education. In 2013, I founded Hashtag Feminism, a digital platform that curated and archived feminist discourse across Twitter from 2013-2015. In 2015, I produced and directed a short documentary entitled Brackish about life in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. My recent feature length documentary film, DRY BONES tells a story about Ike Maxwell, a legendary Black high school football player from Elyria, Ohio.
My research and scholarly essays have been published in Feminist Media Studies, The Black Scholar Journal, Social Media + Society, and MIT Press. I previously served on the board of Women’s Studies Quarterly. I currently serve on the editorial board of Rust Belt Studies.
I’m currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Media and Journalism at Kent State University.
Key areas of scholarly and creative inquiry, and multimedia production:
Black life across the diaspora
Black feminism
social movements
cultural histories of media and technology
digital and visual ethnography
documentary
video production
visual design
EDUCATION
Ed.D. Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design. Teachers College, Columbia University, 2016.
M.A. Women’s Studies. Texas Woman’s University.
B.A. English. University of Houston. Magna Cum Laude.
PUBLICATIONS
Articles/Chapters
Conley, T.L. (2022) Encoded subjectivities: Interpreting Blackness and representations of Black women on inDmix.com. Social Media + Society Special Issue. Clarke, M. and Banks, A. (Eds).
Conley, T.L. (2021). A sign of the times: Hashtag feminism as a conceptual framework. [PDF]. Networked Feminisms: Activist Assemblies and Digital Practices. MacDonald, S., MacArthur, M., Radzikowska, M., and Wiens, B. (Eds.). Lexington Press.
Conley, T.L. (2021). Hashtag archiving. [PDF]. Uncertain Archives: Critical Keywords for Big Data. Agostinho, D., D'Ignazio, C., Ring, A., Thylstrup, N.B., and Veel, K. (Eds). MIT Press.
Conley, T.L. (2020). Rust: A Black woman’s story of growing up in Northeast Ohio. Black in the Middle: An Anthology of the Black Midwest. Williamson, T. (Ed.). Belt Publishing.
Conley, T.L. (2019). Black women and girls trending: A new(er) autohistoria-teoría. [PDF]. This Bridge We Call Communication: Anzaldúan Approaches to Theory, Method, and Praxis. Hernandez, L.H. and Guitierrez-Perez, R. (Eds). Lanham: Lexington Books.
Conley, T.L. (2018). Framing #MeToo: Black women’s activism in a white liberal media landscape. The #MeToo Moment: Social Movement and Challenge for Media Ethics, Media Ethics Forum, 30(1). Beard, D., Chen, G., Roberts Miller, T., Wright, E., and Stroud, S.R. (Eds). Auston: University of Texas.
Conley, T.L. (2017). Decoding black feminist hashtags as becoming. [PDF]. The Black Scholar Journal: Black Code Studies Special Issue, 47(3). Neal, M. A. and Johnson, J.M. (Eds).
Conley, T.L. (2017). Urban settings. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Out-of-School Learning: Volumes 1 and 2. Peppler, K. (Ed). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.
Conley, T.L., Vasudevan, L. (2017). Peer cultures. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Out-of-School Learning: Volumes 1 and 2. Peppler, K. (Ed). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.
Conley, T.L., (2014). From #RenishaMcbride to #RememberRenisha: Locating our stories and finding justice. In L. Portwood-Stacer & S. Berridge (Eds). Feminist Media Studies, Special Issue. London: Routledge.
Conley, T.L. (2016). Mapping new(er) connections in a premature place: A case study on youth (dis)connection, mobilities, and the city. (Doctoral dissertation). Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Vasudevan, L., Rodriguez Kerr, K., Conley, T.L., Riina-Ferrie, J. (2015). Postmodernism and literacy studies. In K. Pahl & J. Rowsell (Eds). The Routledge handbook of literacy studies. London: Routledge.
digital
Living in the Shadow of Statistics in Rust Belt Ohio (February 10, 2023). City Lab / Bloomberg.
Black-Owned Bookstores Are on the Brink (December 17, 2020). Courier.
Why These Teens Are Fighting to Learn Multicultural History in School (October 30, 2020). Parents Magazine.
Rust: A Black Woman’s Story of Growing Up in Northeast Ohio. (October 29, 2019). Zora / Medium.
In Toni Morrison’s Hometown, the Familiar Has Become Foreign. (August 12, 2019). City Lab / The Atlantic.
Conference Papers
Conley, T.L. (2019). Hashtag feminism: A sign of the times. International Intersectionality Conference, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Conley, T.L. (2020). #MoreThanAnAthlete: LeBron James as a critical case study in transmedia authorship. Fourth International Conference on Communication and Media Studies, University of Bonn, Germany.
Working Papers
Conley, T.L. #MoreThanAnAthlete: The racial politics of LeBron James’ transmedia authorship in the era of Donald Trump
Conley, T.L. (In)visible: Young people of color navigating locative media in New York City.
Interactive Media/Documentary Projects
The Ike Maxwell Story. (documentary film). 2021.
Hashtag Feminism. (The Hashtag Feminism Archive). 2013 - present.
Brackish: A Visual Ethnography of NOLA and Hurricane Katrina. (brackishfilm.org). 2015.
The Foe Within: A Docupoem in Three Parts. 2008.
A Region of Survivors. (Post-Hurricane Katrina documentary video). 2007.
manuscript
Breathing Fire: The Summer A City Erupted is a story about writings on the wall in a racially divided Ohio steel mill town during the summer of 1975 and the neglected histories of Black life in a de-industrialized Rust Belt city.
RELEVANT ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Race and Technology Practitioner Fellow. January 2021 - June 2022. Stanford University.
Postdoctoral Fellow. January 2017 - September 2017. Teachers College, Columbia University. Co-researcher on re-entry ethnographic study.
Research Director, December 2017 - July 2018. Race Forward, The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. Lead the research team in implementing short and long-term research projects that advance racial justice solutions in the United States. Authored research reports: Race Explicit Strategies for Workforce Equity in Healthcare and IT. Curriculum development projects: How to Be a Better Storyteller.
Senior Research Associate. March 2016 - December 2017. Race Forward, The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. Conceptualize, plan, and implement short and long-tern research projects that support the organization's mission to advance racial justice solutions in the United States.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, Kent State University.
Digital Video Editing 2023-present.
Managing Media Diversity 2022-present.
Media, Power, and Culture 2022-present.
Race, Gender, Class, and Dis/Ability in Media Environments 2023-present.
Assistant Professor, Montclair State University.
Feminist Media Studies, 2020-present. Guide students in reading and interpreting media in order to examine the relationship between feminism, media forms, and messages about race, class, gender, and sexuality, and so on.
Transmedia Projects, 2018-present. Guide students in developing transmedia and immersive storytelling projects and campaigns. Students explore perspectives from both the academic ‘field’ and commercial/non-commercial industry of Transmedia Storytelling.
Communication, Media, and Gender, 2018-present. Introduces students to the critical examination of how communication processes of socialization and media content exposure produce and circulate shared knowledge, representations, models, and expectations about gender.
Race, Ethnicity, and Media, 2019-present. Introduce students to critical theories of mass and social media and society with particular attention to the social construction of race and ethnicity.
Adjunct Instructor, New York University.
Principles of Professional Writing, 2017 (online). Introduce students to critical practices of professional writing and develop students’ skills for ethical, logical, structural, rhetorical, and grammatical dimensions of writing.
Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (Independent Study), 2017 (online). Guide graduate students in professional writing through research design and methodological choices in pursuit of their individual research inquiries.
Directed Study, 2016-2017 (online). Guide graduate students in bringing theoretical learning to practical application in a supervised environment. This course offers a choice between an internship (where an organization sponsors/contracts a student in an authentic work experience) and a directed study case project (where a student participates in a case project designed by the course instructor that mimics a freelance work experience).
Business and Organizational Writing, PWRT1, 2016-2017 (online). Develops students' ability to communicate both within and outside of a business or other organization as both members and managers, including the ability to communicate in the organization's voice. A core objective of this course emphasizes ethical standards for communicating in multicultural and diverse professional settings. Students also learn basics of creating documents ready for presentation in the form of digital media.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Culture, Media, and Education, MSTU 5002, 2014-2018 (online). Examines the cultural implications of media and technologies for education by parking theoretical frameworks with case studies and other examples of empirical research.
Speech and Intercultural Communications, Pre-College Program, (2011-2014). Examines interpersonal and speech communication principles as well as basic multimedia production skills.
Adjunct Instructor, The New School.
Technologies of Women of Color Feminist Thought & Action, (2015-2017). Framing technology as the practical application of knowledge, this course considers how Women of Color Feminist thought and activism has invented and mobilize a wide range of technologies to provide a significant body of work toward social change.
Adjunct Instructor, Bronx Community College.
Interpersonal Communications, CMS 11, (2012-2013). Survey course to increase students’ understanding and implementation of effective interpersonal communication behaviors and skills.
Teaching Assistant, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Youth, Multiliteracies, & Educational Justice I & II, A&HE 5199, (2014). Examines the ways in which critical, digital, visual, and other literacies can provide positive social and academic experiences for vulnerable youth.
Youth, Media, & Educational Justice, MSTU 5011 & 5012, (2013-2014). Yearlong, participatory learning seminar that provides an interdisciplinary approach to three areas of study: youth, media, and educational justice.
Ethnographic Methods in Educational Research: Dilemmas and New Directions, ITSF 5199, (2013). Provides training in ethnographic methods in educational research.
Teaching of English in Diverse Social & Cultural Context, A&HE 5518, (2010-2011). Examines how issues of gender, class, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation inform instructional goals, curriculum planning/implementation, and practices in the teaching of literature, language, and composition in English language arts classrooms.
Teaching Assistant, Barnard College, Columbia University
Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies WMST V1001, (2011). Survey course examining issues related to gender, sex, sexuality, and race in U.S.-American culture.
Teaching Assistant, Texas Woman's University
Women-Images and Perspectives, WS 100, (2007-2008). Survey course examining issues related to gender, sex, sexuality, and race in U.S.-American culture.
PRESENTATIONS
Social Media for Thought Leadership: Invited Speaker. Texas Woman’s University; April 2023.
Hashtag Genealogies: A Black Feminist Project: Invited Speaker. UNC Charlotte; March 2018.
Honoring Black Boys and Men in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter: Critically Conscious Reflections From Women Teachers, Teacher Educators, and School-Community Activists: Symposium Chair. American Educational Research Association Conference; April 2018.
Strategies for Racial Equity in Educational Technology: Invited Speaker. Reimagining Education: Teaching and Learning in Racially Diverse Schools; July 2016.
Race, Media, and Social Justice: Invited panelist. 4th Annual Screening Scholarship Media Festival on Race, Media, and Social Justice; April 2016.
Walk about school: A case study analyzing the walking interview using multimodal techniques: Lecture. Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference; February 2016. Ethnography in Education Research Forum; February 2016.
Towards an anti-racist pedagogy in educational technology: Presenter. Cultural Studies Association Conference; May 2015.
Anti-racist practices for new movements in the classroom and beyond: Invited Speaker. Race, Rights, and Responsibility Conference, New York University; May 2014.
Renisha McBride and transmedia storytelling: Invited Speaker. Stanford University; February 2015.
Media mobilizing justice: Access, learning, and action in community-based settings with youth: Presenter. American Educational Research Association; April 2015.
Youth, social change and the media: Invited Panelist. Online News Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois; September 2014.
Method of madness: Ethnographically documenting participatory prototyping in design: Presenter. Ethnography Forum, University of Pennsylvania, February 2014.
At the intersections of media, arts, and social change: Community-based participatory research with court-involved youth: Presenter. Ethnography Forum, University of Pennsylvania; February 2014.
Possibilities of designing with and for underrepresented communities: A conversation about participation, court-Involved youth, and humility: Invited Panelist. Racial Literacy Roundtables, Teachers College Columbia University, October 2013.
Critical perspectives on feminism and activism in the third wave: Presenter. The National Communication Association; November 2012.
Social media for social justice 101: Presenter. Allied Media Conference, Detroit, Michigan; June 2010.
Using social media and technology to support your cause: Invited Panelist. Step It Up, Nike Workshop, New York; March 2010.
Promulgating ideas In Twitter society: Our purpose in community and conversations: Invited Panelist. Cool Twitter Conference, Brooklyn, New York; October 2009
Civil engagement trial & using media and technology to support your cause: Invited Panelist. Step It Up, Nike Workshop, New York; May 2009.
Using new media and technology to advance racial justice: Presenter. Facing Race: A National Conference presented by Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation, Oakland, California; November 2008.
Virtual volunteers: Hurricane Katrina’s impact and women’s resolve: Presenter. Media Justice and Feminist Futures Conference, The State University of New York, November 2007. Texas Woman’s University Creative Arts and Research Symposium, Texas Woman’s University, April 2007.
AWARDS
$1000. Anisfield-Wolf Summer Institute Grant. Ainsfield-Wolf/The Cleveland Foundation. 2022.
$1000. The Black Midwest Summer Institute Grant. The Black Midwest Institute. 2022.
$2,200. National Endowment for the Humanities Rust Belt Lab Grant. National Endowment for the Humanities. 2022
$5,000. ACLS Project Development Grant. American Council of Learned Societies. 2021.
$25,000. Race and Technology Practitioner Fellow. Stanford University. 2021-2022
$4,000. Summer Grant Proposal Development. Montclair State University. 2019.
$6,250. Provost Doctoral Dissertation Grant. Teachers College, Columbia University. 2016.
$12,000. Media Ideation Fellow. Voqal Initiative. 2013.
$1,200. Travel Grants. CMLTD. Teachers College, Columbia University. 2014-2016.
CONSULTING
Mobilizing Youth Voices. 2020. Consultant. Provided facilitation and workshop support for young people of color building community advocacy campaigns.
Voqal Foundation. 2016. Fellowship consultant. Provided year-long support and mentorship to Voqal Foundation Fellows creating innovative technologies for social change. Project consulted on: RateMyFosterHome.com.
The Schott Foundation for Public Education. 2009, 2015. Consulted on the strategic development of online communications for the foundation and its grantees.
Beyond the Bricks Project. 2011-2014. Curriculum designer. Developed media literacy curriculum for the film Beyond the Bricks, with a focus on media representations of Black men and boys.
For details about consulting work, view my consulting resume.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Women’s Studies Quarterly, Editorial Board Member.
Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition (CFSHRC), General Member.
Critical Code Studies Working Group, General Member.
FemTechNet, Advisory Board Member.
American Educational Research Association, General Member.
American Studies Association, General Member.
International Communication Association, General Member.
National Communication Association, General Member.
Society for Cinema Studies, General Member.
Popular Cultural Association, General Member.