Kishonna L. Gray

Kishonna L. Gray is a Professor of Information at the University of Michigan School of Information and Professor in the Digital Studies Institute within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She also serves as a faculty associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center, specializing in the critical intersections of race, gender, and technology with particular expertise in online gaming ecosystems and digital marginalization.

Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Justice Studies from the School of Social Transformation (2011), concentrating on Media, Technology, and Culture.

Dr. Gray's research pioneers Black cyberfeminism and Black Game Studies, examining digital ethnography in gaming spaces, AI ethics through critical race lenses, and technology's role in social justice movements. Her work spans Science, Technology, and Society studies with emphases on misinformation, social media dynamics, diversity in tech, and critical design computing.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Educator of the Year Award, Black in Gaming Foundation (2023)
• Xbox MVP Award, Microsoft Xbox Live (2021)
• Outstanding Academic Title for Woke Gaming, Choice Magazine (2019)
• Evelyn Gilbert Unsung Hero Award, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (2019)
• Faculty Achievement for Woke Gaming, Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (2019)
• The Guardian's Best Books About Gaming List (2018)
• New Scholar Award, American Society of Criminology (2016)

As a PhD faculty advisor at UMSI, Dr. Gray mentors emerging scholars in digital justice research while maintaining active industry collaborations. Her grant-funded work focuses on systemic equity in technology design and gaming culture.

She contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship through the Digital Studies Institute and Berkman Klein Center, developing frameworks for inclusive digital spaces and advising major tech conferences including the Game Developers Conference.