The Reginald F. Lewis Museum and the University of Maryland Baltimore County are pleased to welcome Dr. Iyelli Ichile as a post-doctoral fellow and instructor, respectively. At the museum, Dr. Ichile will perform research on Maryland African American history and culture to support the permanent collection. At UMBC, she will be an instructor in the Department of Africana Studies. The post-doctoral fellowship is made possible by a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Ichile holds a PhD in African Diaspora History from Howard University and a Master’s degree in African American Studies from Columbia University. Though, her education began in her mother’s house. Her research and teaching revolves around the themes of spirituality, liberation movements, music, folklore and gender among African people globally.

Beyond academia, Ichile is a community culture worker, a certified Kemetic Yoga practitioner, and a mother.