Lakeya Afolalu

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LAKEYA AFOLALU

As a scholar, creative writer, and speaker, I bridge research, public scholarship, and community engagement to reframe narratives of identity, language, and migration while advancing equity in literacy and arts education. I am an Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture. As a first-generation Nigerian and African American and a former middle school literacy teacher, my current research examines how African immigrant and transnational youth use language, literacy, and digital tools to express, navigate, and redefine their identities across home, school, and digital spaces as they migrate and live between societies fundamentally shaped by race. My scholarship has appeared in leading academic journals and has been supported by national research organizations. I am also the founder and executive director of LitiArts, a nonprofit that supports the identities and well-being of youth through accessible literacy and arts education in schools and community partnerships. LitiArts integrates reading, writing, and the arts to affirm multilingual and racialized identities while creating spaces for creativity, mentorship, and community building. Through my public speaking and creative writing, I engage diverse audiences in conversations that challenge harmful societal messages, inspire hearts and minds, and offer practical strategies for change. My work has reached over readers and listeners through TEDx, ESSENCE Magazine, Human Parts, ZORA, NPR, and SXSW. My core motivation is a deep, long-standing passion and unwavering commitment to making education accessible, affirming, enjoyable, and truly equitable for all students, regardless of their identity or location.