Catherine Knight Steele

Catherine Knight Steele is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Director of the Black Communication and Technology (BCaT) Lab. She holds an additional role as Affiliate Associate Professor in the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. With a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago, her work focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and media, particularly exploring African American digital cultures and Black feminist technoculture. Her research examines how marginalized communities use digital platforms to resist oppression and cultivate spaces of joy and solidarity.

Dr. Steele’s research is supported by major grants including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s DISCO Network funding for the BCaT lab and the AADHum initiative. She is a 2024-2026 Just Tech Fellow. Her book *Digital Black Feminism* (NYU Press, 2021) traces the historical relationship between Black women and technology, positioning digital practices as extensions of long-standing Black feminist traditions. Her scholarship spans journals like *Social Media + Society* and *Television and New Media*, addressing topics from digital Black feminist praxis to online discourses of resistance.

Her teaching and mentorship emphasize ethical digital practices, community-centered research, and interdisciplinary methodologies. She actively develops programs promoting equity in academia and digital humanities. Current initiatives include the BCaT Lab’s exploration of Black digital humanities and participatory media practices. Dr. Steele’s work bridges critical theory with actionable strategies for fostering inclusive digital ecosystems.

Key awards include the Just Tech Fellowship, recognizing her contributions to equitable technology research. Her advocacy extends beyond academia through media appearances and public talks on digital justice, Black feminist theory, and the sociocultural impacts of new media technologies.