Sierra J. Austin is a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a focus on Race, Sexualities and Social Justice. She also has a graduate interdisciplinary specialization in Latino/a Studies.
By conceptualizing Black girls’ discourse practices as an analytic category, Sierra’s research examines the intersection of Black and hip-hop feminism(s), discourse studies and Black girlhood studies in order to explore pedagogical practices that best promote solidarity and critical discourse in the age of #BlackLivesMatter. Her most recent publications, “Review of Jesus, Jobs, and Justice: African American Women and Religion by Betty Collier-Thomas” and “Anita Hill: A Roundtable” appear in Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society and Frontiers: A Journal of Women’s Studies, respectively.
Sierra is the recipient of several grants awarded by The Ohio State University’s Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Council of Graduate Students, The Office of Diversity & Inclusion and The College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the National Women’s Studies Association.
Sierra received a bachelor of arts degree in mass media communications from Wilberforce University, and a master’s degree in women’s, gender and sexuality studies from The Ohio State University. She has also studied at the University of Westminster in London, England. Sierra is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She currently teaches undergraduate women’s studies courses at Ohio State, where she was named an Outstanding Faculty Award nominee, and has also served as the Director of Leadership and Inclusion Programs at YWCA Columbus.
