Kevin C. Winstead

Dr. Kevin C. Winstead serves as Assistant Professor of Critical Media and AI Studies with joint appointments in the African American Studies and Sociology Departments at the University of Florida. His academic profile spans digital humanities, social movement studies, and critical race theory with specialized expertise in Black Digital Media and transglobal disinformation campaigns.

His scholarly focus centers on the intersection of race, technology, and social movements, with particular emphasis on how digital platforms shape and are shaped by Black activism. Dr. Winstead's research demonstrates sustained engagement with the Movement for Black Lives, examining both internal dynamics and external interference through disinformation. His in-progress book manuscript, Sankofa Cyberculture: Black Digital Activism and Disinformation, represents the culmination of a decade of research in this area.

Dr. Winstead has established himself as a foundational figure in Black Digital Studies, having co-founded several pioneering initiatives including the African American History, Culture, and Digital Humanities (AADHum) Initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. His scholarly contributions reveal consistent thematic development across publications, moving from early work on Black Catholic responses to social movements toward contemporary analyses of digital disinformation and Black digital cultural production.

His notable recognition includes:

• Black, Brown, and Queer Plus (BBQ+) Early Career Fellowship (2024-2025)
• Critical Ethnic Studies Paper Award, American Studies Association (Honorable Mention, 2024)
• All-S.T.A.R. Fellowship from the University of Maryland (2017)

As Principle Investigator Affiliate for the Center for Arts and Migration Research, Dr. Winstead leads the Digital Media and Community Initiative (Run:\DM.C) and secured $20,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Digital Inquiry, Speculation, Collaboration, & Optimism (DISCO) project. His academic trajectory reflects strategic development from graduate work at the University of Maryland through postdoctoral positions at Penn State and Georgia Tech to his current faculty role, demonstrating sustained contribution to the emerging field of Black Digital Humanities.