Professor Mbure’s research focuses on media influence on self-perceptions in young people, especially around issues related to appearance ideals of the black body in the media. She also interrogates historical influences of media representations of gender and race in post-colonial contexts. Her current research projects examine the effects of skin tone ideals in the media, opportunities for and resistance to such ideals through new media by post-colonial and Diaspora communities, and the impact of convergence media in creating opportunities for reflexive cultural practices and social change. Her research has been published in Women and Language, and Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media.

Her scholarship has been recognized by a number of awards and grants. In 2010, Professor Mbure received the John D. Bies International Dissertation Research Fellowship awarded by the University of Missouri Graduate School. In 2011, she received the Outstanding Dissertation Award of the African American Communication and Culture Division of the National Communication Association (NCA).

Prof. Wanjiru Mbure,  is an associate Professor at Stonehill College in Massachusetts, USA. She is an award-winning media scholar and researcher, passionate literacy advocate, and grassroots change-leader. She is the founder of Shilling Library (www.shillinglibrary.org) and co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (www.wliafrica.org). Wanjiru enjoys learning from new facilitation experiences and hiking adventures across the globe in equal measure.

Education

• Ph.D. University of Missouri
• M.A. Ohio University
• B.A. Daystar University

Courses Taught

• Mediated Communication
• Gender & Communication