Maisha S. Akbar

Maisha S. Akbar is an accomplished academic leader, scholar, and creative practitioner whose work bridges communication studies, performance, and the humanities at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As a department chair, she provides strategic vision, faculty mentorship, and program development that centers on student success, innovation, and cultural relevance. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to cultivating collaborative academic environments and advancing institutional excellence.

Akbar’s research agenda reflects a dynamic integration of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Her qualitative work is exemplified by Now What a Time, an original play that engages history, memory, and performance to illuminate the cultural legacy of HBCU communities. Through performance as research, she foregrounds storytelling as a critical method for exploring identity, resilience, and institutional heritage. Complementing this, her quantitative studies examine key issues in HBCU humanities education, including student outcomes, curriculum development, and the impact of culturally responsive pedagogy.

In addition to her scholarship, Akbar is a dedicated educator and mentor who prepares students for careers in communication, media, and the performing arts. She has developed innovative programming, including academic bootcamps, colloquia, and student media initiatives, that equip students with both theoretical grounding and practical skills.

Her work reflects a broader commitment to amplifying HBCU intellectual traditions, fostering interdisciplinary inquiry, and using the arts as a vehicle for research, advocacy, and transformative learning.