Scott Poulson-Bryant

Scott Poulson-Bryant is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) at the University of Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from Harvard University and a B.A. in American Civilization from Brown University. His research focuses on African American popular culture, performance studies, and media analysis, with specializations in film, music, drama, and gender studies.

Before academia, Poulson-Bryant worked as a journalist for major publications like The New York Times and co-founded VIBE Magazine. He has authored influential books including HUNG: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America and The VIPs: A Novel. His current research includes a monograph on 1970s US popular culture's racial dynamics.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on African American cinema (AAS 232/FTVM 232), professional writing (AAS 394), and literature/culture studies (ENGLISH 317). His work bridges academic and popular cultural analysis, emphasizing intersectional approaches to media and performance.

His scholarly articles explore topics like Black comedy in media, Prince's artistic legacy, and queer theory in hip hop. Teaching accolades from Harvard highlight his pedagogical excellence. He actively participates in campus initiatives like the DAAS Carceral State Project and Africa Workshops, contributing to interdisciplinary academic engagement.