Meredith Gadsby

Meredith Gadsby serves as Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Comparative American Studies within Oberlin College's College of Arts and Sciences. Holding a BA from Vassar College (1993) and MA/PhD from SUNY Binghamton (1995, 2000), she maintains an active scholarly profile with international research engagements across Barbados, Ghana, Senegal, and the Caribbean.

Her academic focus centers on the intersections of migration, identity, and survival in Black literary traditions, particularly through:

• International Black Literatures
• Literatures of the African Diaspora
• Black Women's Writing
• Cross-Cultural Theories
• Migration and Identity Studies

Her methodology incorporates fieldwork in West Africa and the Caribbean alongside textual analysis of diasporic narratives.

Recent scholarship (2020-2024) demonstrates evolving engagement with Black women's health, menopausal representation in Caribbean contexts, and diasporic literary dialogues between Toni Morrison, Paule Marshall, and Edwidge Danticat. This work builds upon her foundational research in Caribbean women writers' survival strategies while expanding into wellness advocacy and myth-making frameworks.

Professor Gadsby holds leadership positions in key academic organizations as president of the Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars and board member of the Toni Morrison Society. Her civic engagement extends to the Fund for Our Economic Future in Northeast Ohio.

She teaches undergraduate courses including Introduction to Africana Studies (AAST 101), Caribbean Literature (AAST 347), Research Seminar (AAST 350), and Senior Seminar (AAST 450), with upcoming offerings scheduled through Fall 2025. Her public scholarship includes BBC interviews on Toni Morrison's legacy and participation in major international symposia celebrating Black literary traditions.