I do this work because it’s my calling.

Seriously, I have always been interested in culture, conflict resolution, and popular media. I insisted on playing peacemaker for many a friendship dispute in elementary school. Throughout my childhood I read every book about Black American history and culture that I could get my hands on. In high school my senior thesis was a passionate argument for the historical and cultural relevancy of Christian hip-hop music. As an undergrad at the University of Maryland I majored in American Studies and Sociology which allowed me to research depictions of natural Black hair in media and learn about systemic cultural patterns. After undergrad, I worked a 9-5 job long enough to send my bosses some strongly worded critiques about corporate diversity trainings and realize that I wanted to make a career of improving intercultural conflicts. My MA program at the University of Illinois brought me into the academic discipline of Communication and the work of intergroup dialogue facilitation, giving me a broader understanding of the skills needed to critically engage others about culture. I went on to complete my PhD in Intercultural Communication at the University of New Mexico where I studied and practiced ways to improve discussions about cultural systems and identities. Living in Albuquerque and working with a diverse group of colleagues also strengthened my appreciation for dynamic cultural representation, nuanced media critique, and difficult conversations.

Currently, I am an Associate Professor in the Communication & Cinema department at McDaniel College. I teach undergraduate classes about cultural identity, media literacy, and dialogue. I am also an ODEI Faculty Fellow and a Decolonizing the Curriculum faculty mentor, and I love that this supplementary work allows me to facilitate the practice of DEIJ skills with colleagues and students who are not part of my regular classes.  

Since 2017 I have also been a freelance diversity consultant, conducting cultural sensitivity readings for major print media publishers, facilitating intercultural dialogues with small community groups, and creating DEIJ workshops for local non-profit organizations. Consulting work has challenged me to develop unique ways to share many years of culture and media education with individuals outside of educational environments, and how to do so with clarity and impact. 

In tandem with my work life, I am married to my joyously brilliant husband Christopher Fornchor and am a benevolent co-owner to our dog Tyrion (named shortly after I binge watched Game of Thrones in 2020). Right now, I enjoy: Listening to Afro-futurist stories while driving. Eating perfectly soft cookies. Contemplating the possibilities of the multiverse. & Persuading anyone who’ll listen of the artistic genius and beauty that is HBO’s Lovecraft Country.