Dr. Aiesha Turman: Educator, writer, cultural producer, interdisciplinary scholar.
Quick Bits
While she considers herself a lifelong learner, Dr. Turman holds an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. with a major in Humanities and Culture with certificates in Creative Writing and Women’s and Gender Studies from The Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, OH.
Her dissertation, There’s Always Been an Afrofuture: Black Women’s Literature as Technology of Protest explores the Black feminist literary genealogy of Afrofuturism and is part of her broader interests in Black pasts as the key to Black Futures.
She's taught English and Africana Studies at NY City College of Technology (CUNY), Hunter College (CUNY), Nassau County Community College (SUNY), and is faculty in the Writing & Critical Inquiry Program at the University at Albany (SUNY).
Bio
Aiesha is an Afrofuturist Ethnographer, educator, and scholar of Black speculative fiction, with a passion for exploring liberation, storytelling, and the transformative power of education. With over two decades of experience in teaching and curriculum development, she weaves together critical inquiry, creative expression, and cultural history to inspire deep learning and engagement.
Her work spans the realms of academia, public scholarship, and creative arts. She teaches courses on Black speculative fiction and African art and aesthetics, exploring how these fields serve as frameworks for liberation and empowerment. Aiesha is also the creator of Legacy Weaver's Lab, a platform dedicated to fostering dialogue and reflection on Afrofuturism and liberatory praxis.
As a writer, Aiesha’s voice bridges academic rigor and creative storytelling, often centering on themes of memory, identity, and resistance. Her curriculum contributions include the Emmy-nominated documentary Crip Camp and projects with the Zora Neale Hurston Trust.
Rooted in her lived experience as a mother, scholar, and cultural worker, Aiesha is committed to building spaces for learning that honor both the past and the possibilities of the future.
A Final Note
Several years ago, Dr. Turman had the opportunity to tell part of her and her family's story via a Story Corps special project. That story has now been archived and she is delighted to share it here with you.
Dr. Turman’s initial foray into public storytelling occurred a little over 13 years ago when she produced and directed the independent documentary feature The Black Girl Project. This led to the decade-long social action project of the same name, which ended in 2019. Here’s an interview with her ahead of the premiere.