Reginold Royston

Reginold Royston serves as an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the School of Information (iSchool) and the Department of African Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a Ph.D. in African Diaspora Studies & New Media Studies from UC Berkeley, he brings extensive professional experience from 15 years working as a reporter, graphics designer, and cultural critic for Knight Ridder, Village Voice Media, and National Geographic.com.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in African Diaspora Studies & New Media Studies, University of California, Berkeley
• M.A. in African American Studies, University of California, Berkeley
• B.A. in Anthropology and Philosophy, Howard University

Royston's research focuses on the intersection of digital media, African diaspora cultures, and technology development. He examines Ghana's digital diaspora through ethnographic work in Ghana, the U.S., and the Netherlands, while also exploring Black social media practices, podcasting in African contexts, and viral dance phenomena. His work bridges media anthropology, digital humanities, and critical race studies to investigate how marginalized communities navigate and transform digital landscapes.

His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output examining digital practices in the African diaspora, with recent works analyzing African viral dance circuits, podcasting as new orality, and the political economy of digital platforms. These works collectively reveal a research trajectory centered on understanding how African and African diasporic communities appropriate, adapt, and innovate with digital technologies in ways that challenge Western-centric narratives of technological development.

His scholarly recognition includes:

• HASTAC-MacArthur Foundation research grant (2012) for virtual classroom research

As an educator, Royston has developed and taught innovative courses including 'Code & Power: An Intersectional Analysis of Web Culture,' 'Africa + The Internet — Digital Diasporas,' and 'Black Media Studies.' He has coordinated the Black Arts + Data Futures group through the Borghesi-Mellon Interdisciplinary Workshop in the Humanities at the UW-Madison Center for Humanities. His teaching integrates practical digital skills with critical analysis of power structures in technology.

Royston leads the Black Arts + Data Futures research group and has developed multiple digital projects including 'Atomic Junction: Nuclear Science in an African Suburb,' 'Juneteenth as a Communicative Event,' and various civic technology initiatives focused on Africa and underserved communities in the United States.