Elaine Richardson (aka Dr. E) was born in Cleveland, Ohio. An inspirational Ohio State University professor of education and author, in the tradition of Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr. E is a multi-dimensional personality—a performer, recording artist, and speaker—with an inspirational message of spiritual and educational empowerment.

She is Professor of Literacy Studies at The Ohio State University, Columbus, where she teaches in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Her research interests include the liberation and critical literacy education of people of the Black African Diaspora. Her books include African American Literacies (Routledge, 2003), focusing on teaching writing from the point of view of African American Language and Literacy traditions, Hiphop Literacies (Routledge, 2006), a study of Hiphop language use as an extension of Black folk traditions, and PHD (Po H# on Dope) to Ph.D.: How Education Saved My Life, (New City Community Press, 2013), an urban educational memoir that chronicles her life from drugs and the street life to the university. Richardson has also co-edited two volumes on African American rhetorical theory, Understanding African American Rhetoric: Classical Origins to Contemporary Innovations Routledge, 2003) and African American Rhetoric(s): Interdisciplinary Perspectives (Southern Illinois University Press, 2004), and one volume on Hiphop Feminism—Home Girls Make Some Noise(Parker Publishing, 2007). Among her awards, she was Fulbright lecturing researcher in the department of Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (2004); Community Cultural Icon Award from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion/Frank Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center, The Ohio State University 2013; National Council of Negro Women Community Service Award (2012), an Outstanding Woman 
of Columbus Award (2011), and other honors. She is founder of The Ohio State University’s Hiphop Literacies Conference, as well as the creator of the mother-daughter network, which grew out of her afterschool literacy club for middle school Black girls. Dr. E is also the founder of Education Foundation for Freedom (EFF), a registered charitable 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls to prevent vulnerability to human trafficking and abuse.  EFF seeks to provide empowering community experiences to bring women and girls together in strength and support.

 

TOPICS: Writing, Women and Girls of Color, Education