Roslyn M. Satchel is a womanist scholar-activist in the Pan-African Studies tradition who examines human rights and civic engagement at the intersections of social movements, race, SES, ethics, gender, ability, access, media, history, and law.
Her reputation distinguishes her as one of the most influential keynote speakers, writers, and thought leaders of her generation. In her words, “I study media/tech ownership’s impact on content, policy, and the public interest. I advocate for justice and equity.” Dr. Satchel is a tenured full professor in the School of Communication and Media at Kennesaw State University, where she serves as the inaugural lead researcher for the Radow Institute for Social Equity.
Previously, Dr. Satchel also served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Georgia Project and the New Georgia Project Action Fund. At Harvard, Dr. Satchel serves as a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and co-leads the Race-Tech-Media working group. Teaching law, ethics, and communication courses while also working extensively as a community organizer for 30+ years, Dr. Satchel’s global-local scholar activism work has involved collaborations in South Africa, the Caribbean, Thailand, India, Ghana, Kenya, and throughout the U.S. Her accomplishments/awards include having CNN, C-SPAN, Newsweek, Ebony, and many other global media outlets feature her work/commentary.
Her book, What Movies Teach about Race: Exceptionalism, Erasure, and Entitlement, brings Dr. Satchel’s media, legal, and religious backgrounds together to examine the political economy of and representational harm in the most influential films of all time. Her forthcoming book, The Technology is Us: A Womanist Manifesto for Human Ingenuity’s Resistance and Self-Defense, likewise scrutinizes issues of ethics concerning algorithmic bias, artificial intelligence, privacy, and transnational monopolies.
Dr. Satchel earned degrees from Louisiana State (PhD), Emory (JD and MDiv), and Howard (BA) universities. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Satchel also previously served as an endowed tenured professor at Pepperdine University, the Executive Director of the National Center for Human Rights Education, and as a participant action researcher with several grassroots organizations. With over 30 years of experience as a community organizer, advocate, interfaith coalition leader, and non-profit executive, her work consistently centers advancing justice for underrepresented groups.
Community partners say the following: “Dr. Satchel is a visionary, courageous, and innovative thought leader, organizer, and strategist. She works collaboratively to mobilize people of diverse backgrounds to achieve just outcomes and transformative results. It was my privilege to work with Dr. Satchel in Los Angeles to champion the needs of victims of violence.
With her insights and labor of love, we obtained necessary resources and brought together various community leaders to promote safety, restoration, and liberation.” -Dr. Thema Bryant, Bestselling Author of Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole Authentic Self, 2023 President of the American Psychological Association
“Roslyn Satchel is a womanist community organizer, ordained minister, and activist scholar grounded in the Black church and community, global grassroots activism, and traditions of our historic freedom fighters. She understands how to build coalitions, mobilize support, message strategically, and inspire action. In research, interfaith practices, and healing justice efforts, Roslyn’s citizen journalism and media relations skills prove she understands community power building at a deep level. Since 2013, her work behind the scenes helped us build the original chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement (BLMLA). As Black Lives Matter Grassroots grows (now at 39 chapters nationally), Dr. Satchel has played a vital role in onboarding new chapters and leaders, leading political education sessions that ground them in the fundamentals of womanist leadership which forms the basis of our organizing." - Dr. Melina Abdullah, Black Lives Matter Grassroots and Vice Presidential Candidate with Dr. Cornel West in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections
“The work Roslyn has done in Georgia already to address child sex trafficking, ensure compliance with best practices, and develop rehabilitative alternatives to detention has saved lives. I am excited to see how else she contributes to our state in her new role.” - Nina Hickson, Chief of Staff, WSSC Water and Retired City Attorney for the City of Atlanta
“Rev. Dr. Satchel is one of the country’s leading scholars on matters of race, media, and public policy as it relates to Black and Brown people across the U.S. and throughout the African diaspora,” said NGP Board Chair and NGPAF Treasurer Francys Johnson. “Her intricate understanding of the complex issues unfolding right now in politics, academia, and current events puts her in a unique position to strategically help protect Georgia voters who have seen countless attempts to suppress their votes and who, sometimes, are rightfully cynical with a political process that has left them out. Dr. Satchel cares about our democracy and the future of our state and our country.”
“Dr. Satchel brings a unique and powerful perspective to any role; she seamlessly bridges academia and activism, and she’s got that ‘It Factor’ that motivates people to action,” said Dr. Erin L. Ryan, chair of University of Tennessee’s School of Communication and Media. “Community activism is a critical force in shaping political outcomes that ensure diverse voices are heard and represented, and Roslyn engages and mobilizes people unlike anyone I’ve encountered before.”
