When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher. I loved to read, sometimes reading the books over and over again. I was drawn to a variety of stories but particularly those with Black characters. My adolescence is filled with memories of teen magazines like YM (my all-time favorite) and Seventeen. I read them for two reasons: General teenage curiosity and the hope of eventually finding girls that looked like me within the pages. The curiosity was satisfied but was met with disappointment due to a severe lack of Black and brown girls within the pages.

But there was something I could do about that: Become a magazine editor and develop diverse and inclusive content so that other young girls of color wouldn’t have to experience what I did.

My career, as well as my research, are both driven by a profound understanding of representation in places such as mass media, professional settings, and academia, just to name a few. Ultimately, I wanted to create a space for women who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and find ourselves:

• Navigating professional spaces such as corporations, agencies, universities, and industries where we are often highly qualified and heavily credentialed but also subject to various forms of discrimination, prejudice, sexism, and other forms of oppression.
• Embarking on academic journeys in order to secure the bag and contribute to the world around us. Representation matters, and the work we are putting in now as students and scholars will contribute to a greater purpose.
• In need of resources, advice, and tips on topics such as career preparedness, networking, leadership, teamwork, research, intersectionality, and more.

This space will also serve as a place for advocates to gain insight, ask questions, and be informed on ways to continue supporting these women.

My mantra: Full-time boss. Full-time PhD student. Always #BlackGirlMagic.