Black at Queen's

We've Been Here: Kingston Black History Panel Talk  
March 4, Kingston Frontenac Library, 6-8

Panelist bios:
Dr. Kristin Moriah is an award-winning scholar and associate professor of African American Studies at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on African American literature and culture, performance studies, and sound studies. Dr. Moriah’s work bridges literary scholarship with public humanities, often exploring how Black voices resonate across time, space, and media. She is the editor of Insensible of Boundaries: Studies in Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first collection of essays on nineteenth-century Black feminist, Mary Ann Shadd Cary. Dr Moriah has received numerous honours for her scholarship, including the American Studies Association’s Yasuo Sakakibara Prize and the Marie Tremaine Fellowship from the Bibliographical Society of Canada. Dr Moriah is also a member of the American Antiquarian Society. 

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Edward Thomas currently serves as a Term Adjunct in the Department of Physics, at Queen’s University. Alongside teaching, Edward is a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies whose groundbreaking historical research sparked key institutional change at Queen’s. His investigation into the 1918 ban on Black medical students unearthed both who was affected and why. His findings led to the formal repeal of the policy and helped prompt a public apology and reparative initiatives within the School of Medicine. 

Edward draws on a rich, multidisciplinary background. Before his academic career, he worked as a journalist and earned an MEng in Chemical Engineering. Edward also serves as the assistant director of Queen’s office of partnerships and innovation. Furthermore, he supports the MacDonald institute as the associate director of external relations. 

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Qanita Lilla: Qanita Lilla (PhD Stellenbosch University, 2018) is a curator, researcher and podcaster. She is interested in liberating traditional collections of Africa from their ethnographic status by engaging artists from the diaspora and considering the role of digital media in creating access in the public domain. Her practice draws on anti-dystopian methodologies embedded in visual activism from the Global South and includes work on art collectives, community radio and podcasting. Her recent work in print and digital media includes a podcast series and programming related to newspaper archives and printing processes. She is currently Associate Curator Arts of Africa, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University.

Accessibility
Jan 22, 6-8, Rideau
Facilitator: Leroy Baker, author of  Navigating Complexities: The Intersectionality of Blackness and Disability in Higher Education

Dr. Leroy Baker is a postdoctoral fellow at Queen’s University, where his research focuses on Black mental health, equity, and intersectionality in higher education. His work builds on his doctoral research, which explores the mental health challenges faced by Black university students with disabilities in Ontario. A survivor of childhood abuse and neglect in Jamaica, Dr. Baker’s lived experiences deeply inform his commitment to understanding systemic barriers and advancing educational equity for marginalized students. 

After immigrating to Canada, he completed the Transitional Year Program at the University of Toronto, later earning a degree in Equity Studies, followed by a Master’s in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, and a PhD in Sociology and Social Justice from OISE, University of Toronto. His book, Navigating Complexities: The Intersection of Blackness and Disability in Higher Education (Peter Lang Publishing, 2024), examines the ways academic accommodations often reproduce anti-Black racism in Canadian universities. 

Dr. Baker is dedicated to decolonizing ableism and fostering inclusive educational practices. His research seeks to inform policy and transform institutional approaches to mental health, ensuring that Black and racialized students can thrive, belong, and succeed in academic spaces. 

Career Development 
Thursday, November 6, 6-8, Rideau
Facilitator bio: Manny Zangio is a policy analyst and researcher passionate about equity, innovation, and science policy. He currently works at Natural Sciences and Engerineering Research Council, where he contributes to initiatives supporting underrepresented communities in STEM. With a background in exercise physiology and experience in research, advocacy, and program development, Manny brings a data-driven and community-informed approach to his work. He was selected as one of 20 high-potential Black youth nationwide for the prestigious 1834 Fellowship, where he focused on the impacts of climate change on Black Canadians. Manny is committed to shaping inclusive policy and driving systemic change. Register for this opportunity of connection and mentorship.

Photography Workshop with Janice Reid
Sunday, September 28 1:30-4:30, Rideau 
Facilitator bio: Janice Reid is a Jamaican-Canadian photographer based in Brampton, ON, known for her vibrant portrait and fashion photography. A graduate of Humber College with a diploma in Creative Arts, her work explores the Black female experience, innovations in fashion, and the dynamics of urban landscapes. With a colourful, contemporary style, Reid seeks to reimagine narratives of Black female invisibility. She draws inspiration from influential photographers and mixed-media artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Lorraine O'Grady, and Oroma Elewa.