Research. 

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." - Zora Neale Hurston

My work examines how images shape narratives, how visibility operates as a form of power, and how Black life resists erasure through creative documentation. Whether it’s interrogating the colonial legacy of photography or examining how culture is framed in media, my scholarship is rooted in lived experience and intellectual rigor. This page features select projects, writings, and emerging inquiries that ground theory in the everyday.

PUBLICATIONS

 Winfield, A.S., Jordan, J., Smith, T.R., Evans, T.E., & Cupid, S. (2024). Look Who’s Coming to Dinner: A Qualitative Exploration of COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Elderly Rural Black Communities in the U.S. South. Communication & Health Disparities. Eds. Rukhsana Ahmed, Yuping Mao, and Parul Jain.

Winfield, A.S., Cupid, S., Sanders, M.S., Evan, T.Z., Harris, R., Smith, T.R., & Butler, D. (2024). The Little Mermaid and Little Black Girls: A Qualitative Exploration in Representation and Identity with Contemporary Films. The Dark Fantastic by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas: Black Girl Protagonists in Science Fiction, TV, and Film Special Issue. Edited by Toliver & Griffin. 

Winfield, A.S., Hickerson, H., Doub, D., Hardnett, E., Jordan, J., Smith, T.R., & Butler, D. (2023 - 2024). Like Mother, Like Daughter: A Qualitative Exploration into Intergenerational Family Storytelling’s Impact on Uterine Health for Black American Women. (Beginning Summer/Fall 2023) 

Winfield, Asha, Sanders, Meghan, Smith, Tiffany R., Harris, Rockia, Hickerson, Hope (2023). Where Are All of the Black Kids?:A Contemporary Search for Black Youth in the Fantastic Worlds. Anthology Supernatural Youth in the Media.

Linder, Chris, Quaye, Stephen, Lange, Alex C., Evans, Meg E., Stewart, Tejah J., Smith, Tiffany R. (2019, October). Identity-Based Activism: Power and Oppression on College Campuses. New York, New York. Routledge.

PHOTOGRAPHY PUBLISHED WORK AND EXHIBITIONS

 Glorious Blasphemy, Issue #2: An Otherwise Heaven (2024). Work accepted in zine and group exhibition, Da Vinci Art Alliance (DVAA), Philadelphia, PA

BLM Atlanta Co-Founder on Police Abolition (2020). Photographs featured in AJ+ (Al Jazeera) video content.

The Arts and Activism (2018). Photographer and panelist, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, GA.

The Art of Persistence (2017). Group photography exhibition with Sistagraphy, Margaret Mitchell Library, Atlanta, GA.

New and Emerging Arts Exhibition (2016). Group photography exhibition with Sistagraphy, West End Performance Arts Center, Atlanta, GA.

PRESENTATIONS & FACILITATION

Smith, Tiffany R., Winfield, Asha (2024, November) Queens of the Tradition: Black Women’s Impact in the Masking Indian Culture of New Orleans. Presentation at the National Communication Association (NCA). New Orleans, LA

Smith, Tiffany R. (2022, September). Guest Lecture. Served as a guest lecturer for the Mass Communication course: Multiculturalism in the Media at Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA.

Harris, Rockia, Smith, Tiffany R. (2022, May). What Streets? These Streets! Analyzing “Whose Streets” through a Critical Lens that Investigates Material Rhetoric. Presentation presented at the International Communication Association (ICA) conference. Paris, France.

Smith, Tiffany R. (2022, May) Keynote. Served as the 2022 Dayton Early College Academy Commencement Speaker. Dayton, Ohio.

Gardner, Kolby, Smith, Tiffany R. Saunders, McNear, Da’Quan (2022, April) Panelist. Served as a guest speaker in  Black Queer Politics course at Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA (virtual). 

West, Vonetta, Smith, Tiffany R. (2021, January) Nonviolence 365: Understanding and Applying Nonviolence Will serve as a co-trainer for the annual MLK Holiday. Atlanta, GA (Virtual)

Smith, Tiffany R., Lucier, Aurielle (2020, September). Advancing Human Rights through Technology: Black Lives Matter. Talk was given to graduate students at the University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ (Virtual).   

Agnew, Phil, Monet Aja, & Smith, Tiffany R. (2019, October). 2020 Vision: Organizing while Black. Panelist of Solution Sessions at Afropunk festival. Atlanta, GA. 

Smith, Tiffany R. (2019, April). Legacy and Transformation: From Low-Income to Professional. Speech given at the annual Dayton Early College Academy fundraising luncheon. Dayton, OH. 

Cullors, Patrisse, Smith, Tiffany R., & Williams, Toni-Michelle. (2018, October). Black Lives Matter: 5 Years of Resistance. Panelist of Solution Sessions at Afropunk festival. Atlanta, GA.

Smith, Tiffany R. (2016, March). Groundings: Intergenerational Dialogue. Panelist at the 13th Annual Walter Rodney Symposium at the Atlanta University Center. Inaugural TEDx Agnes Scott College Speaker. Atlanta, GA.

 Smith, Tiffany R. (2015, March). Groundings: Social Media and Activism in the African Diaspora. Conference presenter at the 12th Annual Walter Rodney Symposium at the Atlanta University Center. Speaker. Atlanta, GA.

Smith, Tiffany R. (2013, June). Dunkin’ Donuts and the Charcoal Donut: Cultural Misunderstanding and Public Relations Gone Wrong. Presenter at the Summer School on Black Europe program. Amsterdam, Netherlands