About Dr. Shea & The Discourse
Welcome! I’m Dr. Shea — higher education scholar, practitioner, and truth-teller. For over two decades, I’ve navigated institutions that were not built to serve Black professionals. My work explores how institutional structures and culture uphold inequities, and I focus on translating scholarship into insights that are both academically rigorous and socially transformative.
The Discourse: Storytelling Meets Scholarship
The Discourse is my podcast where storytelling meets scholarship. This is a space for honest, unapologetic conversations about race, power, identity, and institutions. We bridge research and lived experience, connecting academia to the community in ways that are meaningful, reflective, and actionable.
Here, you’ll hear critical reflection, personal narrative, and research insights all aimed at understanding systems that shape professional and community life, especially for Black professionals navigating higher education.
Professional Background
Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education in May 2024~~26+ years in higher education, supporting students, staff, and faculty in navigating institutional systems~~Adjunct instructor, teaching courses in social justice, public administration, and race and racism in America
Research & Scholarship
My research centers on: Critical Race Theory in Education (Gloria Ladson-Billings, William Tate)~~Plantation Politics (Dian Squire, Knotterus, Bianca Williams, Frank Tuitt)~~Anti-Black Racism (Dumas & Ross, Gordon)~~Whiteness as Property (Cheryl Harris)
I focus specifically on the experiences of Black professional staff in historically white institutions and how institutional practices continue to reinforce inequities.
I also explore cultural critique through speculative fiction counterstories, four of which I authored as part of my dissertation.
Publications & Presentations
Peer-reviewed articles on CRT, anti-Black racism, and higher education~Conference presentations on plantation politics, institutional inequity, and Black professionals in higher education~Workshops and talks connecting scholarship to community praxis
Why This Matters
Whether you are a student, professional, scholar, or community member, my goal is to provide insights, tools, and perspectives that empower, educate, and spark conversation. The Discourse with Dr. Shea is about bridging the gap between research and lived experience, and creating a space where difficult truths can be examined and understood.
Connect & Engage
Podcast website: https://www.thediscoursewithdrshea.com/
Instagram: @dr._shea
TikTok (personal): @Dr.Shea- GEN X
TikTok (podcast): @DiscoursewithDrShea