Dr. Elaine Richardson is Professor of Literacy Studies, Department of Teaching and Learning. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Public Schools. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Cleveland State University, and the Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. Richardson's research interests include language, literacy, and discourse practices of Afro diasporic cultures, sociolinguistics, critical discourse studies, the education and literacy of Afro diasporic people. Richardson belongs to a network of scholars interested in Hiphop and education. Her outreach efforts include cultural literacy projects focusing on youth empowerment and mentoring. Dr. Richardson's Awards include: Cleveland State University Distinguished Alumni Award (for outstanding contributions to the profession, community and Cleveland State University, 2007; Edward Fry Book Award, National Reading Conference for, African American Literacies, 2005. Fulbright Scholar Award Lecturing and Research, University of the West Indies, Mona, August-December, 2004; Outstanding Book Award by National Communication Association for Understanding African American Rhetoric, co-editor with Dr. Ronald Jackson, 2004.

Selected Publications

• Richardson, E. “African American Literacies,” (Entry) (2008) Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd Edition, Vol. 2 Literacy (Ed.) Brian V. Street. General Editor, Nancy Hornberger, 335-346.
• Richardson, E. “'She Was Workin Like Foreal': Critical Literacy and Discourse Practices of African American Females in the Age of Hiphop.” (2007) Discourse and Society, Vol. 18(6), pp.785-805.
• Richardson, E. Hiphop Literacies (2006, Routledge)
• Richardson, E. African American Literacies (2003, Routledge);
• Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminism Anthology, Co-editor with Dr. Gwendolyn Pough, Rachel Raimist, and Aisha Durham. (Parker Publishing, 2007)
• African American Rhetoric(s): Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2004). Co-editor with Dr. Ronald Jackson, Southern Illinois University Press Carbondale, IL.
• Understanding African American Rhetoric: Classical Origins to Contemporary Innovations (2003). Co-editor with Dr. Ronald Jackson. New York & London: Routledge.