Roslyn M. Satchel

Dr. Roslyn Satchel is a scholar-activist who researches and teaches about communication, ethics, and law.

In Dr. Satchel’s book, What Movies Teach about Race: Exceptionalism, Erasure and Entitlement, she brings her media, legal, and religious background together to examine cultural representations in the most influential films of all time.

Prior to entering academia, Dr. Satchel was a successful community organizer, policy advocate, pastor, and non-profit executive. A pioneer in using citizen journalism and social media for community organizing, her work influenced several state, national, and international policy changes and grassroots initiatives—for which she received several awards and significant national media coverage.

Dr. Satchel worked in interfaith coalition building, human rights, child advocacy, and indigent defense. She also trained clergy and lay leaders on complying with ethical standards, policies, and state/federal law pertaining to sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

Currently, as a member of Black Lives Matter - L.A., she commits daily to social justice in practice and scholarship.

From “Film’s Political Economy and Django Unchained” to “Religion, Race, & the Fourth Estate: Xenophobia in the Media Ten Years After 9/11,” Dr. Satchel’s publications and presentations stimulate debate and a boundless research agenda. Her newest project addresses best practices in church responses to domestic violence.

Dr. Satchel earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Media & Public Affairs at Louisiana State University, Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity (JD/MDiv) degrees at Emory University, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Communication at Howard University.

She is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church with 20 years in ministry. Her son, parents, and canine kids keep her inspired in a multigenerational village of love and caregiving.

She is a Berkman Klein Center Fellow at Harvard Law School and was the Blanche E. Seaver Professor of Communication at Pepperdine University.

She is now a Professor and Lead Researcher for Kennesaw State University, the Radon Institute of Social Equity.

Education

• PhD Media & Public Affairs, Louisiana State University, 2013
• JD Law, Emory University, 2000
• MDiv Theology, Emory University, 2000
• BA Communication, Howard University, 1995

Awards

• Member, Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society
• Fellowship Award, Southern Regional Education Board and Louisiana Board of Regents
• Honoree, Emerging Voices Award, Spelman College's WISDOM Center
• Honoree, National Association of Black Social Workers
• Honoree, EBONY Magazine's "30 Young Leaders of the Future"
• Herman Dooyewerd Prize in Law & Religion, Emory University School of Law
• Honoree, National Crime Prevention Council's 50 Strategies for Faith and Justice Collaboration
• Honoree, Institute for Women's Policy Research's Called to Speak: Women, Religion & Advocacy
• Honoree, Institute for Women's Policy Research's The Ties That Bind: Women's Public Vision for Politics, Religion & Civil Society
• Pepperdine's 2020 Howard A. White Teaching Award
• 2019 National Communication Association's Feminist and Women's Studies Scholar-Activist Award
• Pepperdine's 2017 Distinction in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence

Grants

• Endowed Professorship 2019-2024: The Blanche E. Seaver Professor of Communication
• Pepperdine University Cross-School Collaborative Research Grant (2018-2019)
• Pepperdine University Cross-School Collaborative Research Grant (2017-2018)
• Pepperdine University Seaver Faculty Research Grant (multiple awards 2013-2017)
• Pepperdine University Community Based Research Program Grant (multiple awards 2015-2018)
• Pepperdine Seaver College Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award (Spring 2016)
• Seaver Fellowship in Communication (Spring 2015)
• Seaver College Dean’s Research Grant (Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015)
• Seaver College Faculty Student Mentorship Award (Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2014)
• Pepperdine’s Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative (Spring 2016, Spring 2017)
• Ford Foundation Women’s Human Rights Grant for policy advocacy work on behalf of girls in juvenile justice systems
• Louisiana Board of Regents’ Diversity Fellowship Award
• Soros Postgraduate Justice Fellowship Award, Criminal Justice Initiative of the Open Society Institute, Soros Foundation (New York)