Michelle V. Rowley

Dr. Michelle V. Rowley is an Associate Professor in the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Maryland. Her academic career includes prior roles at the University of Cincinnati and a visiting appointment as Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor at Carleton College. She holds a Ph.D. from Clark University (2003), M.Sc. in Development Studies from the University of the West Indies (1996), and B.A. from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (1992).

Her research focuses on gender and development in the Caribbean, transnational feminisms, and queer representations of identity. Key areas include Caribbean women's reproductive rights, welfare politics, and advocacy for sexual minorities. Her 2011 book Feminist Advocacy and Gender Equity in the Anglophone Caribbean examines policy frameworks and coalition-building for gender equity.

Dr. Rowley’s service contributions emphasize diversity initiatives and global scholarship, including leadership in curriculum revision for the department’s programs and roles on national scholarship committees. Her pedagogical approach integrates social justice and participatory learning, reflected in courses like 'Introduction to Women’s Studies' and 'Constructions of Manhood and Womanhood in the Black Community.'

Her recent work explores queer narratives of 'home' in the English-speaking Caribbean, expanding her interdisciplinary engagement with identity, space, and belonging.