Krystal Nandini Ghisyawan

Krystal Nandini Ghisyawan is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at Oglethorpe University. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and South Asian Studies from York University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Her research focuses on intersections of racial, ethnic, and queer identities with space-making, activism, and spirituality, particularly in the Anglophone Caribbean and among Indo-Trinidadian communities. She actively collaborates with the Silver Lining Foundation, an LGBTQ anti-bullying organization. Ghisyawan teaches courses such as Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnicity in the US, and Sexualities and Society. Her work has been recognized with the 2022 Gordon and Sybil K. Lewis award for her book Erotic Cartographies. She has published extensively on queer Caribbean identities, South Asian diasporic communities, and gender-based violence in Trinidadian schools. Her pedagogical contributions include developing teacher training manuals on diversity and conflict resolution.

• Education:
  • B.A., Anthropology and South Asian Studies, York University (Toronto)
  • Ph.D., Sociology, University of the West Indies (Trinidad)
• Research Interests: Queer Caribbean studies, racial and ethnic identity formation, decolonization, and sociocultural agency in marginalized communities.
• Key Contributions: Authored/co-authored peer-reviewed articles on queer tactility, pachrāt rituals, and LGBTQ school climate surveys in Trinidad and Tobago.

Her articles blend ethnographic analysis with critical theory to explore how gender, sexuality, and spirituality intersect with colonial legacies. Ghisyawan’s public scholarship includes editorials advocating for anti-bullying policies and gender equality in Caribbean education systems. She also serves as a guest editor for interdisciplinary journals and has co-edited volumes on Caribbean queer intimacies and global LGBTQ experiences.