About
Dr. Robin M. Boylorn is a leading scholar in interpersonal communication, critical/cultural studies of communication, and creative qualitative research. Through autoethnography, she uses personal narrative and storytelling to examine the lived experiences and identities of Black women, particularly those from the rural U.S. South. Her work confronts longstanding gaps in scholarly representation, bringing visibility to communities and perspectives that have been historically marginalized in academic research.
By centering Black women’s voices and everyday experiences, Boylorn challenges dominant narratives and offers more inclusive ways of understanding identity, community and power.
Impact Beyond the University
Boylorn’s work extends far beyond traditional academic spaces. Her work shapes public conversations about race, gender, class, and place, and is frequently engaged by practitioners in media, education and community leadership.
Her groundbreaking book, “Sweetwater: Black Women and Narratives of Resilience,” earned multiple national honors, including the Outstanding Qualitative Book Award from the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2014), the Best Monograph/Book Award from the National Communication Association’s Ethnography Division (2013), and the H. L. “Bud” Goodall Jr. & Nicholas Lee Trujillo “It’s A Way of Life” Award for Narrative Ethnography (2013). She is a former editor of Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, one of the flagship journals of the National Communication Association and she has received the Mid-Career Award from the NCA Ethnography Division.
A Passion for Teaching and Guidance
In the classroom, Boylorn invites students to see communication as a powerful tool for self-understanding and social change. Drawing on her expertise in narrative inquiry and cultural studies, she encourages students to reflect on their own experiences while critically examining the structures that shape those experiences. Her mentorship supports students in becoming thoughtful, reflective communicators who are prepared to engage in issues of identity, difference, and justice in their careers and communities.