Welcome!

Hello! My name is Nana, and I’m a Black transnational feminist scholar and advocate. My research explores the historical and contemporary dimensions of Black migrant geographies and the politics of systemic and transnational anti-Blackness. At one level, I examine how Black migrants navigate and contend with intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, citizenship, and im/ mobility. At another, I investigate the role and reach of anti-Blackness in policy and policymaking across borders. 

My work also delves into the political economy of data, utilizing a Black Transnational Feminist approach to Feminist Data Studies to critically analyze and challenge how data is collected, interpreted, and deployed in ways that impact Black people globally. Through my research, I seek to address systemic biases, power imbalances, and colonial legacies embedded in governance, research, and data practices while centering the lived experiences, knowledge, and voices of Black women and gender-expansive people.

I am the incoming Visiting Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Dayton Human Rights Center. Previously, I was an inaugural Non-Residential Fellow at the University of San Diego's Kroc School VIP Lab, where I conducted interdisciplinary research on systemic violence and exclusion faced by Black migrants, focusing on the U.S. immigration system. I also founded Diaspora Praxis Research Consultancy, a firm dedicated to transformative research and advocacy work. In addition, I serve on several editorial and advisory boards, including the Journal of African Feminisms and the Black Feminist Eco Lab at the University of Utah.

Currently, I am an active Working Group Member for the Sexual Violence Research Initiative's Faith and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Community of Practice, where I collaborate with policymakers, researchers, and activists to promote South-South knowledge exchange and develop evidence-based practices for addressing gender-based violence in religious contexts. 

Additionally, I serve on the FAIR SHARE Data Advisory Council, where I advise on the development of intersectional feminist data strategies that address systemic inequities in global gender equity initiatives. I guide ethical and inclusive data practices, designing strategies that elevate the voices of marginalized women and ensuring that data collection aligns with trauma-sensitive and power-critical methodologies.