Michelle Hite

Michelle Hite is an Associate Professor at Spelman College, serving as Director of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program and Director of International Fellowships and Scholarships. Her academic career spans over two decades, with a focus on African American life, culture, and media representation.

• Ph.D. in American/African American Studies from Emory University (2009)
• M.S. and B.A. in English from the University of Kentucky

Dr. Hite’s research explores intersections of race, gender, nationalism, and 20th-century American history. She is currently writing a monograph on the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Her work spans cultural analysis, media studies, and literary criticism.

Her 2019 publication on Beyoncé and Black motherhood examines feminist narratives in contemporary culture, while her 2017 article on racial terror in hip hop aesthetics addresses trauma and survival in the post-Civil Rights South. These works highlight her expertise in African American cultural studies and sociopolitical discourse.

• Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018)