Jordan Ealey

Jordan Ealey (they/she) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Black Studies at the University of Rochester. A multidisciplinary Black feminist scholar-artist, their work bridges academic research and creative practice, focusing on Black language, sound, and movement as tools for Black feminist worldbuilding. They hold a BA in Theatre and English from Wesleyan College and an MA/PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Research Focus

Dr. Ealey's scholarship examines:

• Black feminist epistemologies in music theatre
• Historical and contemporary Black performance traditions
• Intersections of sound, popular culture, and Black girlhood

Awards & Recognition

• 2021 Helen Krich Chinoy Dissertation Fellowship
• 2023 James F. Harris Arts and Humanities Visionary Award

Creative Praxis

As a playwright and dramaturg, Ealey has developed works including JEANNETTE, SILHOUETTES, and I’VE BEEN A WOMAN, often collaborating with theatres like Round House Theatre and Kennedy Center. They co-created the Black feminist podcast Daughters of Lorraine (supported by HowlRound Theatre Commons) and contribute as a cultural critic.

Research Support

Funded by the American Society for Theatre Research, Humanities Without Walls, and the Womanist Working Collective.