Bio

Ayana Margery McNair received her PhD in Cinema-Television, Critical Studies from the University of Southern California in December 2011. Her dissertation,The Captive Public: Mainstream Representations of the Police and the (Il) Legitimacy of Police Power, explores the perpetuation of pro-authoritarian narratives in mainstream depictions of the police (within cop shows, movies, and even museums). Her research areas include cultural studies, power relations, US racial politics, and museology/museum studies.

An East Oakland, California native, and first-generation college graduate, Ayana has been actively involved for over 10 years in community relations and service activities. Ayana is especially committed to helping make education more accessible to marginalized students. A graduate of the McNair Scholars Program at SJSU, Ayana has been very active in encouraging underrepresented students to pursue higher education, including working with students in the McNair Scholars Program at USC and neighboring Southern California universities. Additionally, Ayana has served on the executive board of USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association, as lead organizer of Lambda's annual film festival, a signature fundraising event contributing to Lambda's distributing of over $300,000 to date.

Since obtaining her doctorate, Ayana has been very focused in transitioning her skills and experience in writing and editing-- along with an innate desire to help others-- into her new endeavor as a business owner and professional editor. Ayana enjoys helping struggling writers overcome their trepidation and feel more confident in their communications.

Ayana's hobbies include travel; the arts (museums, performing arts); nature and the outdoors, especially being near water; food, wine, and beer snobbery; and pop culture trivia (the more useless and/or embarrassing, the better. Ayana boldy challenges anyone who dares to a duel over Golden Girls or Saved by the Bell trivia).

Hola

tl;dr version of bio:

Ayana Margery McNair earned a PhD in Cinema-Television, Critical Studies from the University of Southern California. Her dissertation, The Captive Public: Mainstream Representations of the Police and the (Il) Legitimacy of Police Power, explores pro-authoritarianism within US culture. An Oakland, CA native and 1st-generation college grad, Ayana strives to help others, currently as an editor & writing coach. Ayana's hobbies include museums, nature, good beer & The Golden Girls.