Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Katrina Hazzard-Donald is a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University-Camden, affiliated with the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice and the Africana Studies and Research Program. She is a renowned scholar in African-American dance and culture, with expertise in traditional African religions and Hoodoo practices.

• Educated as a sociologist, she integrates dance ethnography with cultural and religious studies
• Recipient of prestigious fellowships including ACLS and Rockefeller
• Keynote speaker at Duke University’s CADD Symposium (2020)

Her research examines intersections between African diasporic dance, spirituality, and cultural identity, introducing groundbreaking theories like the Ring Shout framework. Current projects explore connections between Jazz Scat singing, Pentecostal glossolalia, and turntable techniques, alongside reviving historical dance traditions.

Scientific accolades include:

• De La Torre Bueno Special Citation (for Jookin’)
• ACL Fellowship
• Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Oni Award

She has contributed to Emmy-nominated and award-winning documentaries, served as guest curator for the National Afro-American Museum, and taught at historic institutions like Street Academy. Her work bridges academic scholarship with lived cultural practice.