Dr. Shemeka

26/05/2026

07/05/2026

I do not take it lightly that I am tenured, and tenured early.

Luckily, I had at least eight Black women professors throughout my lifetime because I attended a minority-serving institution. But for many people who do not attend HBCUs or MSIs, that is not their reality. I have had graduate students tell me that I am the first Black woman who has ever taught or mentored them. I am currently the only Black woman tenure-track faculty member in my department. The 2% is real.

There are many reasons Black women do not receive tenure, including:

• Being evaluated more harshly than White peers on teaching evaluations
• Students expecting us to mother them and becoming upset when we do not
• Being labeled as aggressive or “not a team player”
• Experiencing microaggressions, discrimination, and structural racism
• Constantly shifting expectations or unclear standards for success
• Mentoring more students because we are often one of few faculty of color
• Increased service expectations, especially around DEI-related work
• Not having mentors who teach us how to navigate the hidden curriculum of academia

I have been fortunate to have White mentors who taught me how to navigate that curriculum and acknowledge that the system is biased and grateful for them. But the truth is, this system was not built for us, which makes this achievement monumental.

If you've had the honor to be mentored or taught by a Black woman who is a tenured professor who changed your life in some way, drop their name in the comments so we can celebrate them. If you're a Black woman who is tenured, let us know in the comments.

To the list of women tenured faculty who have changed my life, Dr. Candice N. Hargons (Emory), Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins (UK), Dr. Penny Ralston (FSU), Dr. Joi Bulls (UNCG), Dr. Lauren Whiteshurst, Dr. Erica Payton (UNCG), and Dr. April Few-Demo (UGA).

05/05/2026

I'm officially tenured and promoted✨

I submitted my packet after three years as an assistant professor. At the time (June 2025), I had 63 publications, two book chapters, 47 conference presentations, 722 citations, over $5 million in external and internal funding, and numerous awards for mentorship and research.

I'm grateful for every advisor, mentor, colleague, sistafran, writing buddy, and mentee who believed in my vision and supported me. A huge thank you to every mentee who wrote letters both within and outside of my institution. I'm blessed to have a village of family and friends who always show up for me and never hesitate to remind me who tf I am.

Now time for celebratory tacos and tequila.
If you're looking for me, I'll be in the sky and on somebody's beach all summer.

29/04/2026

Today, I was asked in an interview why my work is important, and it immediately reminded me of a conversation I had with Emily Nagoski in 2022. is one of my favorite s*x scientists and a true because she is an ally in both word and deed. I can go on and on about this beautiful human, but during an interview for her Centering Confidence and Joy Substack, she asked me the same question.

I can talk for hours about why my research is important, but the most meaningful parts for me are Black women seeing themselves, feeling validated and supported, and knowing they are not alone in their s*xual experiences. So often, s*xual difficulties go untreated or unspoken. Because of hypers*xual stereotypes about Black women, these conversations are often silenced, leaving many to feel isolated. But we experience challenges with or**sm, arousal, desire, and pain just like everyone else.

Another part of my “why” is hearing from students who have read or cited my work and share how it helped them justify the importance of their own research. I graduated in 2020, when there was very little s*x-positive, empirical research on Black women’s s*xual lives, and I knew I wanted to change that. Since then I've received numerous emails, DMs, and requests to serve on dissertation committees because of my expertise.

For the past six years, that has been my mission. Pushing the field of public health forward and leaving future scholars with literature they can cite for decades about Black women’s s*xual well-being. That’s my why. 💫

09/04/2026

S*x education should do more than explain bodies and teach abstinence. Right now, too many states are allowed to deliver information that is medically inaccurate, culturally disconnected, or rooted in shame. And we see the impact of that in who has access to accurate information, who feels empowered to ask questions, and who is supported in making informed decisions about their health.

Racially just s*x education means:
• Centering the experiences of Black youth and other marginalized groups
• Addressing how racism, stigma, and policy shape access to care and information
• Teaching consent, autonomy, and pleasure alongside prevention
• Equipping young people with tools to advocate for themselves in healthcare and relationships

To learn more about how s*x education can advance racial justice, check out the work from SIECUS.

What would racially just s*x education have looked like for you growing up?

08/04/2026

Many of the states and territories with higher Black populations are receiving some of the lowest grades in s*x education. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a structural issue.

When s*x education is limited, inaccurate, or rooted in shame, it directly impacts how young people understand their bodies, relationships, pleasure, and health. It shapes help-seeking, communication, and even how people navigate care later in life.

For Black youth, this matters even more. Because when systems already fail to provide equitable healthcare, education becomes one of the first and most important points of access to information and empowerment.

S*x education is public health.
S*x education is prevention.
S*x education is about autonomy.

So when we see grades like this, we have to ask:
What are we actually preparing young people for?

And more importantly… what would it look like to do this differently?

*xEducation *xualHealth

06/04/2026

Over the last two years, we have poured intention, care, and rigor into the Assisted Reproductive Technology (A.R.T.) for Hope Study. From local dissemination to national conferences, to hosting events with non-profit organizations, virtual webinars, and creating platforms for couples to share their stories, this work has always been about more than research. This is just the beginning, as we want to ensure we host programs for couples in all five states. None of this happens without a dedicated team.

I’m proud to introduce the people behind the work:
✨Hi, I'm Dr. Shemeka Thorpe, the Principal Investigator
✨Co-Investigator: Dr. April Few-Demo (UGA)
Expansion Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Praise Iyiewuare (UK)
✨Research Assistants: Natalie Malone (UK), Evelyn Barrales (UGA), and Dr. Brenice Duroseau (Johns Hopkins/Duke)
✨Creative Director of the ART Exhibition: Dr. Misha Frazier (Misha's Room)

A huge thank you to two of our biggest supporters: Dr. Ana’Neicia Williams, DSW, LCSW,PMH-C and assatashouse for believing in our project and vision and allowing us to present findings from our study at your events and/or providing sponsorship.

This study was funded by the University of Kentucky's (UK) UNITE Research Priority Area High Impact Pilot Grant and UK ASCEND grant.

Interested in learning more about the study? Join us tomorrow for a research webinar with SisterSong Reproductive Justice Collaborative.

06/04/2026

I'm just a girl who loved her local library and had a Black woman librarian who used to hold the new releases of my favorite authors for me, and a mom who didn't know what the hell I was reading until I got older.

Funny story my mom was a stay at home mom, so I always thought she was reading my books while I was at school 😂 turns out I was wrong. I really gave her a Desperate Housewife trope lol

Shoutout to Wendell Public Library, Black librarians, Zane, and supportive moms.

02/04/2026

See you tonight!!! Register to learn more

SisterSong, A.R.T. for Hope Study Team and Participants, and Misha’s Room invite you to a conversation highlighting the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (A.R.T.) for Hope Study!

Despite the challenges and grief that can accompany the family planning process, prior research shows that same-s*x couples often continue to experience hope, which informed the title of the A.R.T. for Hope Study.💜

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black q***r women couples who have used or are currently using medically assisted reproductive technologies to conceive. Grounded in intersectionality and reproductive justice, the study included interviews with 17 couples across North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Conversation features:
Dr. Shemeka Thorpe (PI, A.R.T for Hope [KY, GA, NC])
Dr. Misha Frazier (Creative Director of the Art Exhibition),
Dr. Praise Iyiewuare (PI, A.R.T. for Hope Expansion Project [Philadelphia area & DMV]),
A.R.T for Hope Research Study participants, Brittany & Rahchella Washington

Moderated by Nea Richard, SisterSong's Research Fellow, this session promises to be a thoughtful discussion on finding hope amidst the challenges of A.R.T. and on the use of creativity within research to collect and amplify these stories.🙏🏾

📍Virtual Zoom Webinar
🗓️April 2nd, 6 pm-7:30 pm!
🔗: RSVP AT: bit.ly/RIABQBF

***rFamilies ***r

23/03/2026

SisterSong, A.R.T. for Hope Study Team and Participants, and Misha’s Room invite you to a conversation highlighting the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (A.R.T.) for Hope Study!

Despite the challenges and grief that can accompany the family planning process, prior research shows that same-s*x couples often continue to experience hope, which informed the title of the A.R.T. for Hope Study.💜

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black q***r women couples who have used or are currently using medically assisted reproductive technologies to conceive. Grounded in intersectionality and reproductive justice, the study included interviews with 17 couples across North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Conversation features:
Dr. Shemeka Thorpe (PI, A.R.T for Hope [KY, GA, NC])
Dr. Misha Frazier (Creative Director of the Art Exhibition),
Dr. Praise Iyiewuare (PI, A.R.T. for Hope Expansion Project [Philadelphia area & DMV]),
A.R.T for Hope Research Study participants, Brittany & Rahchella Washington

Moderated by Nea Richard, SisterSong's Research Fellow, this session promises to be a thoughtful discussion on finding hope amidst the challenges of A.R.T. and on the use of creativity within research to collect and amplify these stories.🙏🏾

📍Virtual Zoom Webinar
🗓️April 2nd, 6 pm-7:30 pm!
🔗: RSVP AT: bit.ly/RIABQBF

***rFamilies ***r