RESEARCH & CREATIVE WORK
GUIDELINES
The portfolio of creative scholarship and engineering presented below directly fulfills the core mandates set forth in the Recommendation 305-2015 Preamble (p. 12):
"Evaluation and assessment of Faculty members will be based on the following: high-quality, peer-reviewed publications, juried creative productions and production of publicly distributed professional work; public recognition of professional and academic excellence; recognition by professional societies or recognized experts in the candidate's field or medium;"
With respect to work output, Section X: Promotion and Tenure requires the following of candidates at the rank of Assistant Professor seeking the rank of Associate Professor (p. 22):
"The candidate shall have published or had accepted for publication:
- One (1) Peer reviewed book
- Media Productions (see Appendix A)
OR
- One (1) Major Production (as described in Appendix Band/or Appendix C)
OR
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Published or accepted for publication some combination of the following, which must total five (5) quality publications:
- Book chapter(s)
- Refereed articles in legitimate journals
Appendix A - 050514 MJFC APT Philosophy Statement (43) articulates departmental guidelines for creative achievement (p. 9 - 11). The document specifies:
"A. Exemplary Creative/Professional Activities
7. Reflecting the time-driven nature of new media and other creative projects, a narrative, photojournalism or other multimedia project conducted for an unspecified period, but at a level of excellence that exceeds professional norms, that enhances professional discipline and that is nationally or internationally recognized.
10. Authorship of works such as articles, reviews, commentaries, multimedia, and/or other creative projects published or broadcast locally, nationally or internationally in newspapers, magazines, popular or industry-specific media (e.g., TV and film documentaries, JAE, Folio, AJR, CJR, BEA, UFVA, etc.) or on the Internet if they demonstrate high standards in the practice of the discipline. This can include:
- A singular in-depth or long-form article, special report or other project
- A collection of short reported pieces about a single subject or a substantive collection on diverse subjects
12. Live, filmed or taped productions that have been exhibited or broadcast on television, radio, satellite or cable at the local, regional, national or international level and/or on any Arbitron-rated station, online and/or other distribution deemed of significance… A major production for audio, video (including instructional project, etc.), film or other multimedia must be completed and must adhere to the following guidelines:
- All completed productions must be aired or exhibited before a refereed body of peers recognized by the profession, and/or documented by significant recognition, acceptance and success as defined by academic or professional constituents.
- All completed productions, whether narrative or documentary, must reflect research and artistic or journalistic vision."
Criteria for evaluating Audio / Radio contributions specific to the Media / Film sequence are also presented therein (p. 4 - 6):
“ The audio/radio sequence focuses on the art and the science of audio and music technology. Creative projects in the audio/radio sequence may include (but are not limited to) scriptwriting, directing, producing, sound design, multitrack sound editing and performance… Audio works and professional activities involving sound and audio production permeate the other disciplines within MJF and also exist as artifacts from many audio-specific or audio-only fields and contexts. With this in mind, it is important to note that although a radio or audio-only program or production is “only audio,” the effort required to produce this artifact often involves the same amount of planning, production, editorial, and other post-production work as a film, TV program, etc. Therefore, the perceived (or actual) lack of other media within these works should not be considered a deficit in rigor, effort or substance.”
OVERVIEW OF SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE OUTPUT
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Major Productions, Sound Architecture & Film/Podcast Series: 11
- Includes: Commercial album engineering, feature documentaries, sound tracking, and multi-season podcast productions.
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Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters, Institutional Research & Published Articles: 7
- Includes: Palgrave Macmillan book chapter, Emerald Publishing handbook chapter, official university center research reports, and invited New York Times public scholarship.
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Refereed Conference Presentations, Invited Panels & Guest Lectures: 19
- Includes: Audio Engineering Society (AES), International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM), Berklee College of Music, and university research symposia.
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External Research Grants, Sponsored Research Fellowships & Funded Contracts: 10
- Totaling over $290,000 in external capital from sources like the Interledger Foundation, Spotify, and The Recording Academy.
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Patents & Registered Intellectual Property: 2
- Includes: One utility patent application for interactive data monetization and one registered creative copyright portfolio.
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National & International Prestigious Peer Recognitions / Awards: 4
- Includes: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Best of Competition Winner, GRAMMY Award nomination contribution, and major film festival laurels.
TRADITIONAL RESEARCH
My traditional scholarship focuses on the intersection of audio technology and human well-being, establishing a rigorous framework for designing 3D spatial sound environments aimed at autonomic regulation. This research is directly validated by the international academic community, as evidenced by my peer-reviewed paper selected for presentation at the 2026 Audio Engineering Society (AES) International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality and Immersive Games in Paris, France.
"Designing Spatial Audio Environments for Autonomic Regulation: Toward a Framework of Social Sonic Design”
June 30 - July 3, 2026
Context: Created a new field of study called "Social Sonic Design" to use spatial audio for health and nervous system regulation.
Effort: Combined neuroscience, composition, cultural sound cues, and audio technology to move immersive sound beyond simple visual media. "Lullaby for Ébùn" is the creative work complement to this traditional research.
Impact: Accepted to present a lecture and publish a paper at the 2026 Audio Engineering Society International Conference in Paris. This positions my work at the center of global conversations on health and immersive media technology.
File: HERE
Who Catfished Ella Fitzgerald? Five Minutes to Make You Love Ella Fitzgerald.
Published June 4, 2025
Context: Invited by acclaimed cultural critic Marcus J. Moore to contribute a critical musicology essay for the New York Times feature, "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Ella Fitzgerald."
Effort: Authored the specialized essay "Who Catfished Ella Fitzgerald?", analyzing her 1975 live performance of "You Turned the Tables on Me" to bridge historic jazz phrasing with modern digital and social contexts.
Impact: Published an elite piece of public scholarship in a premier global news outlet, expanding the university's cultural footprint and translating complex music theory for an international audience of millions.
Link: New. York Times (paywall) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/arts/music/ella-fitzgerald-jazz-music.html
Book Chapter Publication in "The Emerald Handbook of Computer-Mediated Communication"
Publication Date - June 27, 2022
Context: Authored the peer-reviewed book chapter “Call & Response: A System for Converting Interactive Data into Money and Sound” (2022) to address how pandemic-era artists suffered from losing live audience feedback during social media performances.
Effort: Developed an original theoretical framework showing how real-time digital audience behavior (like live chat comments) can be captured and used to automatically trigger digital currency payments and generate new musical compositions.
Impact: As the sole author of the book chapter, contributed to a leading international handbook published by Emerald Publishing Limited. Emerald is a premier global publisher managing a research network that spans over 130 countries and provides digital library access to more than 300 universities worldwide, ensuring my theoretical framework has a permanent, international academic reach.
Link: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-80071-597-420221034/full/html
File: HERE
Multi-Institutional Research Initiative "Lost In The Mix"
Publication Date: November 10, 2023
Context: Co-authored a major 2023 multi-institutional research project analyzing gender representation among producers and engineers on streaming networks and award registries.
Effort: Combined large-scale industry data analysis with cultural critique to pinpoint why women and non-binary technical professionals face gaps in career advancement.
Impact: Established Howard University as a leader in data-driven conversations about equity and labor in the music business. The findings provide concrete evidence to push for real accountability across global music platforms.
Link: https://cwggl.howard.edu/articles/lost-mix-analysis-credited-technical-professionals-music-industry-highlighting-women-and
Public Scholarship Essay “Signal and Story” for Howard Magazine
Fall 2025 Issue
Context: Authored a high-visibility public essay in 2025 exploring how AI, immersive audio, and Black musical traditions change music education and creative work.
Effort: Synthesized my unique experience as an educator, researcher, and Recording Academy leader to showcase Howard University’s audio curriculum as a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary model.
Impact: Advanced institutional thought leadership and drove student recruitment by highlighting successful career paths at top organizations like Spotify, SiriusXM, and SoundExchange. According to official media metrics, the publication maintains a print circulation of 88,000 readers per issue, directly distributing my research to university alumni, corporate partners, major private foundations, donors, and national legislators.