Mwalim Peters

Mwalim Peters serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of English & Communication at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he teaches literature, creative writing, and performance studies. His academic work bridges scholarly research with artistic practice, focusing on oral traditions and contemporary media expression within cultural contexts.

Professor Peters earned his MFA from Goddard College (2006), MS from Boston University (1993), and BA from Boston University (1991). His educational background reflects his interdisciplinary approach spanning creative writing, media production, and cultural studies.

His research centers on songwriting traditions of storytellers, spoken-word performance (including storytelling, poetry, and oral history), film/video production, sound design, and comprehensive theater arts. He investigates how digital media production preserves and innovates upon Native American and African Diaspora cultural traditions, creating new forms of expression that honor their roots while addressing contemporary issues. His work demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of cultural identity, storytelling traditions, and musical heritage across multiple media formats.

As an educator, Peters teaches ENL 200: Studies in Literature (covering topics like Black Music and Black Literature), ENL 269: Creative Writing: Drama, ENL 366: Creative Writing: Forms of Fiction, and supervises independent studies. His creative output includes the short story collection "A Mixed Medicine Bag" (2007), the stage play "Among Brothers" (2016), and various multimedia works that connect academic scholarship with public-facing artistic expression.

Peters actively engages in community through arts & civic engagement initiatives, with projects that bridge academic work and public audiences. His affiliation with Black Studies, English, and Urban Studies programs demonstrates his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and community connection.