Courses taughtEntrepreneurial Marketing Black Entrepreneurship in America

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The Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship (CAME) connects networks of scholars, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and advocates to the engines of creative and cultural economics at the heart of migration. Defining the arts as all forms of cultural production, the center seeks to effectively create new models and power alignments that return value—entrepreneurship—to cultural producers to build more just global futures. Through community-responsive programming, research, and creative production, the center facilitates and extends the innovation, resilience, and ingenuity of diasporic and migratory communities. ENTREPRENEURSHIP attaches value to cultural production, whether that value is heritage preservation, cultural innovation, economic and social justice, or commercial venture. CAME proposes new models that return the ability to determine value to those producing culture and facilitates sustainable economic benefit to creatives living and working within migratory and diaspora communities.

At PodNiche, we help you raise your voice above the rest. We do not help clients create just a podcast; we are here to help you find your specific, tiny but mighty community, and craft a brand that speaks right to them.● Consultant and coach for individual, corporate, and university podcast creation, including the University of Virginia Women’s Center● Speaker and facilitator for industry conferences including Podfest Multimedia Expo and Blk Pod Festival● Creator of podcast building program

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● Created and host podcast with 70,000+ listeners in 112 countries ● Research food truck industry trends and present breaking news to listeners as well as serving as industry advisor and consultant to provide insight at trade shows, news and media outlets, city officials and stakeholders, and academic settings.● Copy writer for all branding including but not limited to website, press releases, and presentation decks● Books guests for the show. Responsible for conducting background research on guests, contacting, and onboarding for show. Follows up to unanswered calls, emails, social media DMs. Keeps organized system to track data of all guests process from start to finish.● Product manager for several initiatives including podcast, reports, magazines articles, YouTube, and TV Shows. ● Manages all PR, successfully securing press features on local, national, and global platforms● Leads sales campaigns for book, tour, and other projects● Secured partnerships and collaborations with over 15 corporations, startups, educational institutions, and nonprofits totaling a reach over 4.3 million in 2021 and over $15,000 in podcast sponsorship for 2021● Spearheads all pre and post-production responsibilities, including background research, copy and content editing, interviewing, and audio editing.● Engages social media regularly to actively be in dialogue with followers and engage in podcast talent recruiting ● Travels frequently to conduct observations, facilitate discussions and led presentations at industry conferences, discover potential guests

● Responsible for creating an undergraduate think tank for research and arts that is grounded in Black history and culture on a local, national, and global scale by exposing students to various methodologies including semi-structured interviews, literature reviews, surveys, ethnography, and other appropriate approaches necessary for the project.● Mentored undergraduate students on how to analyze, synthesize, and interpret findings and ideas to be delivered to Purdue and Greater Lafayette communities (students, faculty, staff, community members of various majors, fields, and backgrounds) in a manner that is clear, concise, compelling, and engaging using surveys, videos, activities, dance, and other mediums.● Created and disseminate marketing material for shows and festivals including copy for program show notes ● Communicated the vision of cultural arts festival, research tour, and cultural arts series through a variety of mediums for marketing plan to be effectively executed across intergenerational and multicultural audiences. ● Collaborated with team of 5 Performing Arts Ensemble Artists in Residence and Assistant Director to create semester themes and 4 performances for Purdue and Greater Lafayette Community.● Increased and retained student membership by 200% in the first year of leadership. ● Managed transition to remote and hybrid platforms throughout pandemic.

● Designed and managed a 5.5-year independent research project centering the experiences of African Americans within the food truck industry● Recognized for innovation in researcher as first to design research project specifically on Black food truck owners● Analyzed current communications and framing practices of Black entrepreneurship and the food truck industry through news, academic literatures, media, television, and film● Conducted empirical research that led to the creation of new frames to potentially shift the mindset of the public and academia regarding the impact of street food entrepreneurship on Black communities and Black economic freedom● Performed historical analysis to identify contemporary trends and challenges● Presented results before stakeholders within the fields of, but not limited to social science, humanities, and STEM as well as municipalities, tech companies, and nonprofits● Applied and successfully secured grant funding totally over $113,350

● $4.8 million funding support from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, to work on topics of racial inequality, histories of exclusion, disability justice, economic justice, techno-ableism, and digital racial politics within the academy, the technology industry, innovation and beyond. ● Worked to develop new opportunities for STEM and humanities students and researchers to address digital inequality. Lead research assistant for Humanities and Technology Lab. ● Partnered with interdisciplinary, diverse, remote team to expand existing cross-functional relationships between stakeholders in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, the School of Engineering Education, the School of Design, Art, and Performance, the Honors College, and the College of Engineering’s Innovation and Leadership Studies Program ● Developed publications about Black creators, business, and entrepreneurship in physical and digital spaces. ● Presented findings virtually before stakeholders representing multiple fields within and beyond the academy such as digital media studies, science and technology studies, sociology, anthropology, engineering, computer science, English, and American Studies

● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (online Summer 2021● African American Studies 371: Contemporary Black Entrepreneurship (designed, online) Spring 2021● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (distance learning) Summer 2020● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (in person) Fall 2019● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (distance learning) Summer 2019● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (in person) Spring 2019Teaching Assistant● African American Studies 271: Intro to African American Studies (in person) Fall 2018

Recognized by university provost for outstanding commitment and excellence tostudents and remote teaching during COVID-19.● American Studies 101: America and the World (synchronous, online) Spring 2021● American Studies 201: Cultural Politics of Entrepreneurship (designed, hybrid) Fall 2020● American Studies 101: America and the World (asynchronous, online) Fall 2020

● Worked directly with Instructional Coach and Program Director to serve as facilitator for 4 student teams through the process of product design, development, and through components of business model.● Provided a fast-paced, rigorous summer intensive program for 60 high achieving students that is centered in hands-on learning while being comfortable adapting to constantly changing schedule● Fostered research, determination, conflict resolution, time management, and other critical life and professional skills. Encouraged failing forward among students.● Providing coaching and critique for team pitches prior to pitching before audience of 200 including startup CEOS, government officials, nonprofits, etc.● Successfully advocated for the hiring of a mental health counselor and a more diverse team for following year

● English 10: Close Reading and Literary Analysis (online) Summer 2021● English 11: Activism through Literature and Pop Culture (online) Summer 2021● English 10: Close Reading and Literary Analysis (online) Summer 2020● English 11: Activism through Literature and Pop Culture (online) Summer 2020

● Explored the ways undergraduate Black women develop mathematics identities. Addressed underrepresentation of racialized minorities in mathematics or STEM● Conducted literature reviews, data collection and analysis. Organized and conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with participants and assisted in organizing focus group for participants● Coded and analyzed data in preparation for manuscript as first author. Submitted proposal and was accepted into leading conference for field of education.

● Developed semi-structured interview questions to ask graduate students about on-campus racial climate and diverse curriculum● Recorded, transcribed, and analyzed responses● Collaborated with quantitative and video groups to present full project and paper detailing findings● Presented work to administration to review

● Provided feedback to Algebra II department chair for students needing additional support to master content. Mentor students who need additional instructional support.● Assisted literature instructors with facilitating class and group discussions among 9th and 10th graders. Serve as substitute teacher during teacher absences● Designed and executed research project with Spanish teacher to gain understanding on how to improve student mastery of language using cultural narratives and hands-on learning● Collaborated with Dean of Students to design custom tour to Vanderbilt University for students of color.● Explored alternatives to excessive discipline procedures and encourage empowerment among students.

● Synthesized the details of the YPQA assessment tool published by Weikart Center For Youth Quality Programming and observings five after school programs serving over 120 students across the city by taking thorough, fieldnotes and evaluating programs in five different areas using the YPQA scale. ● Provided anecdotal evidence from sessions to support program scores and meet with program directors to constructively discuss scores and provide detail-oriented and nuanced recommendations and insight for improvement. ● Facilitated directors in developing improvement plans to be implemented and assessed at follow up observations

● Served on advisory board and interview committees. Supported Executive Director in meetings to secure funding with potential sponsors and donors.● Contributed to curriculum revision to ensure material was timely, relevant, and engaging.

● Led weekly college access and awareness sessions for high school students at Woodlawn High School● Share experiences and lessons learned as a first-generation college student and provided● Facilitated FAFSA workshops serving high school students and parents in the Birmingham area● Peer mentor for 9th grade early awareness program and curriculum content● College one-on-one coach for 11th and 12th grade students● Organized field trips to college campuses including customized tours and breakout sessions

● Leveraged year-long service and leadership program open to strengthen UAB’s commitment and service to the Birmingham and Black Belt communities. ● Developed and drove projects designed to address educational inequity, public health, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity initiatives in collaboration with K-12 schools and other community-based organizations.● Aggregated university data for service-learning course for presentation. Facilitated training, guidance, and resources for 15 faculty fellows in structuring and executing service-learning courses.● Directed bi-annual, service-learning expos attended by over 800 students, faculty, and staff. Recruited faculty and graduate students for judging undergraduate expos. ● Created program proposals and flyers● Led recruiting efforts to onboard new Outreach and Engagement Fellows as well as faculty, particularly faculty in psychology, sociology, biology, information science, management, and criminal justice.● Spearhead communication with university colleges, departments, and offices for cross promotion events. Facilitated networking events between university and community partners.

● Team researcher responsible for assisting community development organization Urban Impact, Inc. by creating strategic plan ● Provide business consulting for historic 4th Avenue Business District and its merchant association● Conducted community asset mapping for district to meet key stakeholders● Gather market data for district to be used for current and prospective business and property owners

● Developed curriculum to prepare minority students applying to doctoral degrees in business.● Conducted business model canvas for program structure.● Led graduate test prep workshops covering GMAT and GRE exams● Served as peer mentor as new doctoral student by sharing resources with other members

● Transformed the Business Student Scholars Program into The Birmingham Project by creating new summer research intensive program to introduce high schoolers to community based participatory research● Led 10 UAB students and 20 high school students in conducting historical analysis and forecasting projections of the City of Birmingham and conducting a strategic development plan for District 6. ● Taught students to do data collection using primary and secondary sources such as interviews, oral histories, census tracts, city development plans and news articles. ● Chief liaison for all communication with local stakeholders such as city council, local businesses, clergy, city school system superintendent, police captains, neighborhood residents and university affiliates, dignitaries, local civil rights icons who contributed to the project through interviews and ethnographic work conducted by students. ● Spearheaded final product with over 50 recommendations for implementation and before City Council and public gathering of 300 including press which resulted in the City implementing some of our suggestions for community safety.● Engaged press before and after the launch of the program via local radio, university news, local news, and blogs.

● Researcher for multi-million-dollar and multi-university NSF grant to understand lobbying disclosure data in relation to the Affordable Care Act● Collaborated with researchers across various fields within and beyond the university including computer science, healthcare management, and political science● Analyzed and coded lobbying disclosure data so algorithm could be generated● Recruited, trained, and mentored other researchers on relevant research methods and data analysis. Reported team findings to principal investigator in weekly meetings● Conducted literature reviews● Created reports to be published in academic journals based upon findings

● Coordinates with President to develop and distribute a meeting agenda● Records minutes of meetings, emails them to chapter and reports them at the following meeting. Conducts all correspondence for the Chapter including sending regular notification of meeting minutes, events, and chapter meeting dates● Records, reports, and maintains a file of all minutes of meetings, bylaws, roster and other records of the Chapter and should post them on BSync as needed. Prepares and maintain a current membership roster. Compiles materials for chapter newsletter. Circulate sign-in and sign-up sheets for meetings and events. Maintains a "record copy" of the bylaws and a record of any changes● Prepare the SHRM student chapter newsletter. Reserve meeting rooms for chapter meetings. Obtains parking permits for all off campus guests of the student chapter. Assist in coordinating the activities of officers and committees with fellow Executive Board members. Assist the President on tasks as needed

Course Taught● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (online) Summer 2013● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (online) Summer 2013● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Spring 2013● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Spring 2013● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Fall 2012● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Fall 2012● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (online) Summer 2012● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (online) Summer 2012● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Spring 2012● Information Systems 103: Applied Information Systems & Technology (in person) Spring 2012

● Compiled historical and archival data on the Woodlawn community of Birmingham, AL through the use of primary and secondary sources as well as field observations● Collected data on the cultural mindsets of long-time and new residents of Birmingham and specifically the Woodlawn community to understand key similarities, differences, and reasonings for differences in mindsets.● Spearheaded community asset mapping of Woodlawn’s five neighborhoods on the basis of educational access, economic opportunities, health access, housing, and recreation● Conducted semi-structured interviews with community stakeholders to understand community points of pride and areas for growth● Led the drafting of and presented 20-page report summarizing findings