Graham Heads Department of Africana Studies
Professor Natalie Graham is dedicated to transparency, collaboration, and growth.
The new head of the Department of Africana Studies is ready to bring it to the next level as a premier program.
Natalie Graham joined UT as a professor in 2024 and had served as interim head of the Africana studies department since January 2025.
In addition to teaching African studies, Graham leads poetry writing courses for the English department and has created an online writing course focused on popular music. She also developed a new Southern Food Cultures course.
Focused on improvement and innovation in the department, Graham plans to position UT as a leader in Southern Africana Studies. “I’ve always been drawn to the power of education to transform us,” she said. “Africana Studies is centered on this transformation because we focus on creating creative and critical responses to the world around us.”
Graham’s goals for the department include expanding co-curricular programs to support undergraduate and graduate students, enhancing their sense of belonging, research, and professional development.
Long term, Graham wants to expand ongoing community partnerships, research development, and the overall student experience within the Department of Africana Studies.
by Amy Beth Miller