ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION & STUDENT POSTER

Ashley Mackey is a general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News. She joined the team in August 2019 after reporting and anchoring in Phoenix, Arizona, for Cronkite News on Arizona PBS.

Ashley earned her master's degree in sports journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Montana. At Montana, she studied on a full-ride tennis scholarship, and when she graduated from there, she traveled the world playing professional tennis for two years.

Ashley worked as a News21 fellow on the "Hate In America" project, which garnered awards such as a Robert F. Kennedy Award, an Edward R. Murrow award, a BEA award and an EPPY award. She also interned at the United States Tennis Association.

Ashley is excited to be back and reporting on Inglewood, the city where she was born. She serves her community alongside her sorority members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc. 

Serving as Executive Director of the Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political & Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills, Anthony Asadullah Samad is a political scientist, author, and public intellectual whose work focuses on African American politics, public policy, and historical memory. MDAAPEI is a nonpartisan research institute dedicated to examining the political, social, and economic impacts of public policy on African American communities in California.

Dr. Samad is the author of six books and has written more than 1,100 editorial commentaries published nationally between 1991 and 2015. His scholarship and commentary have contributed significantly to public discourse on race, governance, and social change, and he continues to publish selected commentaries with Ebony.

He retired in 2018 as a Professor of Political Science and African American Studies from East Los Angeles College, where he taught for more than two decades. His academic training includes degrees from California State University, Los Angeles; the University of Southern California; and Claremont Graduate University.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Samad is a filmmaker whose documentaries contribute to the preservation of Black political and cultural history. Under his leadership, MDAAPEI has produced award-winning digital archive projects, including Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend and Respect My Crown: The Rise of Black Women in California Politics, expanding public access to historically significant narratives.

Historian and scholar at the University of Southern California whose work focuses on African American history, labor, gender, and political culture in the twentieth century. Her scholarship examines the intersections of race, work, and social movements, with particular attention to Black women’s leadership and grassroots organizing. Dr. Wilson is the author of The Segregated Scholars: Black Social Scientists and the Creation of Black Labor Studies, 1890–1950, a foundational text in the field. Her research contributes to broader conversations about how Black intellectual traditions have shaped public policy, historical memory, and social change. 

Maulana Karenga is a scholar, activist, and cultural theorist best known for his work in African American studies, ethics, and cultural history. He is the founder of the holiday Kwanzaa and the creator of Kawaida philosophy, which emphasizes culture as a foundation fo Maulana Karenga is a scholar, activist, and cultural theorist best known for his work in African American studies, ethics, and cultural history. He is the founder of the holiday Kwanzaa and the creator of Kawaida philosophy, which emphasizes culture as a foundation for social transformation. Dr. Karenga has authored numerous books and essays addressing Black history, ethical thought, and cultural practice, and has played a significant role in shaping contemporary discussions of African-centered scholarship and commemoration. r social transformation. Dr. Karenga has authored numerous books and essays addressing Black history, ethical thought, and cultural practice, and has played a significant role in shaping contemporary discussions of African-centered scholarship and commemoration.

 M. Keith Claybrook serves as Chair of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach. His work centers on African American history, political thought, and the role of Black studies in higher education. As an educator and administrator, Dr. Claybrook has been committed to curriculum development, community engagement, and the institutional preservation of Africana Studies as a vital academic discipline. His scholarship and leadership emphasize the importance of historical consciousness and interdisciplinary study in understanding Black experiences. 

Marne Campbell is Chair of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University and a scholar of African American history and culture. Her research explores Black life, representation, and cultural politics, particularly in the twentieth century. Dr. Campbell’s work addresses the ways Black communities have shaped cultural expression, political movements, and historical narratives. She is also deeply engaged in teaching and program leadership that foregrounds critical inquiry, historical context, and community connection. 

Donna J. Nicol is a scholar at California State University, Long Beach whose work engages African American history, public memory, and historical interpretation. Her research and teaching emphasize the importance of documenting Black experiences and examining how history is preserved, taught, and remembered. Dr. Nicol’s contributions support broader efforts to advance inclusive historical scholarship and deepen understanding of Black history within academic and community contexts.