Assistant Professor of English

Albany State University | Department of Arts and Humanities | Albany, GA 31705

rondrea.mathis@asurams.edu | www.rondreadanielle.com

EDUCATION

2015   Ph.D.       English Literature, University of South Florida

Concentration: American Literature

Concentration: African American Literature

Concentration: Black Feminist Theory

2010   M.Ed.       Secondary Education, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Concentration: English Literature

2008   B.A. English Literature, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Cum Laude

PUBLICATIONS

“Divine Secrets of the Purple Sisterhood: Alice Walker’s Portrayal of the Trinity in Blitz Bazawule’s The Color Purple.” Ed. Imani Cheers. Sacred Sisterhoods: A Celebration of Black Women’s Friendships on TV & Film 1993-2023. Columbus: The Ohio State University Press. Print. 2024.

“Black Women Will Save Us: Partnering Black Feminist Theory with Culturally Relevant Pedagogy To Teach Undergraduate Writing.” Ed. DuEwa Frazier. Teaching Humanities with Cultural Responsiveness at HBCUs and HSIs. Hershey: IGI Global. Print. 2024.

“Securing a Soft Life: On Black Women and the Soul.” Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels: Myths, Legends, and Other Lies You’ve Been Told about Black Women. Eds. Clarissa West-White, Rondrea Danielle, Jan Boulware, Kideste Wilder. New York: Black Lawrence Press. Print. 2024.

Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels: Myths, Legends, and Other Lies You’ve Been Told about Black Women. Eds. Clarissa West-White, Rondrea Danielle, Jan Boulware, Kideste Wilder. New York: Black Lawrence Press. Print. 2024.

“I Came with Resistance in Mind: Teaching and Learning as a Black Woman at a Predominately White Institution.” Underserved Women of Color, Voice and Resistance: Claiming a Seat at the Table. Eds. Sonja Brown Givens and Keisha Edwards Tassie. Lanham: Lexington Books. Print. 2014.

WORKS IN PROGRESS

No Pulpit for Her Heels: Black Women’s Fiction as Womanist Theology. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. Print. Under contract.

Black Women’s Use of Academia as Activism. Hershey: IGI Global. Print. Forthcoming 2024.

REVIEWS

Introduction to Afrofuturism: A Mixtape in Black Literature, Music, Film & New Media. Editor DuEwa Frazier. Routledge Press, Taylor and Francis Group, UK. 2023.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

2024   “One Ever Feels Her Twoness: On Writing Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels: Myths, Legends, and Lies You’ve Been Told About Black Women.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Memphis, TN.

2024   “Writing for Black Women and about Black Women.” Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s Conference. Daytona Beach, FL.

2024   “‘Don’t Blame Mr. Charlie, Mr. Charlie Is Just a Man:’ Images of Toxicity as Romantic Foundation.” Zora Neale Hurston Writer’s Conference. Daytona Beach, FL.

2023   “I Belong to Myself: A Recognition of Selfhood in Black Women’s Literature.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Atlanta, GA.

2023   “Black Women’s Road to Whole: How Women Create Themselves.” Zora Neale Hurston Writer’s Conference. Daytona Beach, FL.

2022   “It’s Me: Black Women’s Location of Self-Definition in African American Women’s Literature.” Zora Neale Hurston Writer’s Conference. Daytona Beach, FL.

2019   “Black Girl Magic: An Exploration of Changing Black Womanhood in the 21st Century.” Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International Fall Workshop.

2019   “Make Grading Greater: How to Make Student Assessments Work.” Faculty Development Seminar. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, FL.

2017   “Supposing a Self: Black Women’s Reclamation of the Body through Genius in Arts and Letters from Shonda Rhimes to LaVerne Cox to Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Columbia, MO.

2017   “From Hip Hop to the Holy Ghost: Reimaginations of God in Contemporary Rap Music.” College of Liberal Arts Conference. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, FL.

2016   “From Breeding Love to Briding Well: An Alternative Ending for Pecola Breedlove in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Texas Southern University, Houston, TX.

2015   “There’s Something Sour in the Sugar: Toni Morrison’s ‘Sugar-Brown’ Girls and the Politics of Black Women’s Migration.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX.

2014   “A Life in the Spirit: A Personal Journey to Wholeness through bell hooks’ remembered rapture.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.

2013   “And This Is for Colored Girls Who Have Considered Literature: Edwidge Danticat’s Use of African Diasporic Literary Tradition in Krik Krak.” College Language Association. University of Kentucky-Lexington, Lexington, KY.

2012   “Loving on a Midnight Train to Harlem: Toni Morrison’s Love Story in Jazz.” Annual Convention College Language Association. Spelman College, Atlanta, GA.

KEYNOTE SPEECHES

2024   “Faith, Gifts, Education: How Mary McLeod Bethune Envisions Democracy in 2024.” Black Voters Matter Project. Daytona Beach, FL.

2024   “Zora Neale Hurston and Black Women’s Radical Self-Definition.” Zora! Festival of the Arts and Culture. Orlando, FL.

2023   “The Magic Is in You.” Bethune-Cookman University Section of the National Council of Negro Women. Daytona Beach, FL.

2023   “The Power of Black Women’s Collectives.” SAGE Women’s Conference. Tampa, FL.

2017   “The Connective Fibers Across the African Diaspora.” Famn Kreyol Soirée Elegant. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

2017   “From Meek Maids to Leading Ladies: The Evolution of Black Women in Film and Media.” Largo Public Library. Largo, FL. Lecture.

2014   “The Future of Black Womanhood.” National Council of Negro Women. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

2011   “The Feminism of Our Mothers,” National Council of Negro Women. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

INVITED WORKSHOPS

2022   “Every Body on Purpose.” SAGE Women’s Conference. Tampa, FL.

2011   “Being Black, Pursuing Academia,” Florida A&M University Student Government Association Lecture Series. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

2010   “Parental Involvement as the Key to Student Success.” Masters of Applied Social Sciences Graduate Program, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

INVITED RESEARCH TALKS AND COLLOQUIUM

2022   FAMUly Talk: Season Two. FAMUly Affair.

2019   “On Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Gathering and Gabbing. Zora! Festival of Arts and Culture. Eatonville, FL.

2016   “Black Women and the Jim Crow South.” Albany State University Department of History and Political Science, Albany, GA.

PANELS

2024   “Baldwin and Blackness: A Banned Books Presentation.” F.R.E.S.H. Books Festival. Daytona Beach, FL.

2018   “Between Their Eyes Were Watching God and Beloved: Black Women and Independence.” Zora! Festival of Arts and Culture. Eatonville, FL.

2016   “How Race Is Portrayed in the Media.” Florida A&M University School of Journalism and Graphic Communication Knight Chair Speaker Series. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL. Panel.

2016   “Cocktails and Conversations.” Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

2016   “New Age Activism.” Albany State University Department of History and Political Science, Albany, GA.

2016   “I Am Not My Hair.” Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Tampa, FL.

2014   “Defining Contemporary Feminism.” National Council of Negro Women. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

AWARDS

2024   Project Pericles Civic and Voter Engagement Fellowship

2024   Bethune-Cookman University Mellon Grant 2024-2022, 2018

2023   Bethune-Cookman University Mellon Grant

2022   Bethune-Cookman University Mellon Grant

2019 Bethune-Cookman University SEED Grant

2018 Bethune-Cookman University Mellon Grant

2015   University of South Florida Graduate Student Travel Grant

2014   University of South Florida Graduate Student Travel Grant

2012   University of South Florida Graduate Student Travel Grant

2011   Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Travel Grant

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY)

College English I

Advanced Composition

Women in Literature

Post-Colonial Literature

Hip-Hop As Literature

Contemporary Literature

English Literature II

American Literature

Internship

Senior Seminar

Major Authors (Toni Morrison and James Baldwin) (courses developed)

Black Girl Magic (course developed)

VISITING INSTRUCTOR (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA)

Department of Women’s and Gender Studies

The Female Experience in America

Literature by Women of Color

Black Feminisms (Course developed)

Department of Africana Studies

Black Women in America

Black Women and Spirituality (Course developed)

INSTRUCTOR OF RECORD (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA)

Department of English

Freshman Composition I

Freshman Composition II

Introduction to Short Story

Introduction to Literature

Introduction to Fiction

Visiting Instructor (FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY)

Department of English

Freshman Composition I

Freshman Composition II

Improving Writing Competency

OTHER TEACHING EXPERIENCE

INSTRUCTOR (BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY)

Center-Centro Educativo Latinoamericano

African American Literature

African American Legacies

TEACHING ASSISTANT (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA)

Department of English

Twentieth Century Literature

The Bible as Literature: Old Testament

The Bible as Literature: New Testament

INSTRUCTOR (FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY)

Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement

Public Speaking

Vocabulary Enhancement

TEACHING ASSISTANT (FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY)

Department of English

Improving Writing Competency

The American Novel

Theories and Techniques in Literature

SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY & PROFESSION

DEPARTMENT SERVICE

CAPSTONE COMMITTEES

2024   Wilson, Demetria. “The Danger of the Single Story.” Defense Committee Member.

2020   Monroe, Sarah. “Deconstructing Post-Colonialism and the Detrimental Traumas on the Nigerian Igbo Culture in Literature.” Defense Chair.

2019   Fox, Jala. “To Be Real: Redefining Realness.” Defense Chair.

2018   Edwards, Jalyne. “‘Transgressing the Ties that Bind:’ Reimagining Black Women’s Friendships in the 21st Century Arts and Letters.” Defense Chair.

2017   Carter, Walkeria. “Harriet’s Women: Black Liberation through the Body of a Black Woman.” Defense Committee Member.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

2023   Virginia Tech HBCU/MSI Research Summit. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg, VA.

2023   Rise Q.E.P. CEL Workshop Series. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, FL.

2023   Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

2023   Course Design Principles

2023   Transferable Competencies and Skills

2023   Course Alignment and Timelines

2023   Folio and Reflection

2023   Course Proposal Presentations

2023   Tenure and Portfolio How-To. Rise Q.E.P. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, FL.

2023   Rise Q.E.P. Opportunities for Students and Faculty. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, FL.

2022   Virginia Tech HBCU/MSI Research Summit. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg, VA.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

2023                   Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s Conference (Co-Chair)

2022-Present              General Education Committee (Member)

2022-Present              Faculty Honors and Awards Committee (Member)

2022-Present     Judicial Affairs Committee (Member

2021-Present              Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Member)

2020-2018                  Zora Neale Hurston Writer’s Conference (Co-Chair)

2018                   College of Liberal Arts Conference (Chair)

2014-2013                 English Graduate Student Association, Spring Conference Co-Chair

CAMPUS SERVICE

2023-Present              Sister 2 Sister/Lotus (B-CU Chapter Advisor)

2023-Present             Bethune-Cookman University Section of the National Council of Negro Women (Chapter Co-Advisor)

2023-Present              Gay-Straight Alliance (B-CU Chapter Co-Advisor)

2022-2019                  Melodic Stepping Experience (B-CU Chapter Advisor)

2017-2015                  Famn Kreyol (USF Undergraduate Chapter Advisor)

2017-2012                 USF Section of the National Council of Negro Women (Chapter Advisor)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

College Language Association (Life Member)

Modern Language Association

Black Doctoral Network

Toni Morrison Society

National Council of Teachers of English