Current Leadership

Director

Jocelyn L. Brown, Ph.D., is Director of African American Studies and Assistant Professor of Sociology. Her research and teaching focus on race, health, aging, racial capitalism and Black life in Appalachia.

Brown leads the development of African American Studies and the Black Studies Center. She mentors student researchers and develops partnerships with organizations throughout Southwest Virginia and the Appalachian region.

Contact: jlbrown9@radford.edu | Hemphill Hall 3105

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Student Fellows

Bilal Biggs

Bilal Diggs is a senior majoring in Criminal Justice and double-minoring in African American Studies and the Science of Communication. He is from Concord, North Carolina. His research interests focus on how historical racism and misogyny continue to shape modern society, particularly through the structural and often subtle ways they influence institutions, beliefs, and everyday life.

As a Black Studies Center Fellow, Bilal is interested in sharing his research with both younger and older audiences while building community and encouraging civic engagement. His future goals include working as a detective before eventually becoming a professor. Outside of his academic and professional interests, Bilal enjoys volunteering in his community and wrestling. He hopes to continue creating positive change within African American communities both during and after his time at Radford.

Leo Ramona

Leo Ramona is a junior studying Psychology, African American Studies, and Spanish. Her academic interests bring together cultural neurology, social theory, and questions about how cultural identity shapes mental health and well-being.

Through her work with the Black Studies Center, Leo hopes to develop research that speaks directly to the experiences of Black undergraduate students at Radford and contributes to making those experiences better. She plans to continue her education in psychology after graduation, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor. When she isn’t studying or doing research, Leo can usually be found behind a camera or DJing.