Shamika A. Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of English at Rockland Community College, participated in two panels at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) in July. SDCC, a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, is the premier comics/pop culture event in the world, with attendance topping 130,000 in recent years. SDCC celebrated its 50th anniversary, with the convention running from July 18-21 at the San Diego (CA) Convention Center.
At SDCC, Dr. Mitchell served on the panel, “Women of Color in Comics: Race, Gender, and the Comic Book Medium,” hosted by Women in Comics Collective International. Along with other award-winning artists, Dr. Mitchell discussed ways women can maintain career longevity within an ever-changing industry, while ushering in a new generation of creators who will help broaden the scope of the comic book medium as a whole. The panel received media coverage from BET, the Los Angeles Times and Shondaland. Dr. Mitchell also organized and moderated a panel entitled, “Super Salaam! Muslim Nerds, Geeks, and Fandom,” where Muslim comics creators discussed their work and current happenings in the industry. “At past conventions, I became aware that I am not the only Muslim enjoying fandom. I have met Muslim cosplayers and creatives, so the panel idea came naturally to me. The Super Salaam panel is thought to be the first time SDCC has had a program of this type. I am very proud to have represented SUNY and RCC at San Diego Comic Con,” added Dr. Mitchell.
A fan of newspaper comic strips, anime and comic books since childhood, Dr. Mitchell has pursued comics history research, and is a staunch supporter of comics in the classroom, believing that comics are literature. “As professor of College Writing courses and literature courses such as Children’s Literature, African-American Literature, Asian American Literature and American Literature, I incorporate comics within my curriculum.” She recently led a curriculum-development workshop that centered on comics in the classroom, and will be hosting an educational gaming panel at Keystone Comic Con in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Mitchell has organized and hosted several comics-related programs on campus, featuring talented artists and illustrators, several working with Marvel and DC Comics.
Dr. Mitchell is co-advisor to the Black Student Union, and advisor to the Muslim Student Association at Rockland Community College. The students in the Black Student Union focus on celebrating the African Diaspora, with creative programming including film screenings, open mic poetry and round table discussions about current topics. The students in the Muslim Student Association are an open and accepting group from diverse backgrounds, who come together to learn, share and celebrate different aspects of Muslim culture; hosting food tastings, fashion shows, henna parties and discussions about religion and spirituality.
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who start out at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.
Facebook Comments