Ashley Smalls (she/her)
Assistant Professor College of Arts & Sciences English Providence
Biography and Expertise
Ashley Smalls is a college educator that specializes in media representation, social media, and popular culture. With years of experience managing social media for publications such as the New York Daily News and Forbes, she employs innovative teaching methods to enhance student engagement and comprehension. By integrating active learning techniques and educational technology into courses such as “Media and Popular Culture” and “Global Media”, her aim is to boost students’ digital literacy and critical thinking skills. She strives to foster a comprehensive understanding of media dynamics while encouraging analytical thinking and creative expression. Through her research and scholarly contributions, she aims to enrich academic discourse and inspire the next generation of media scholars and professionals.
Education
PhD
Pennsylvania State University
MA
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
BA
Penn State University
AI in the Classroom (Magazine)
JWU Magazine
May 6, 2025
https://www.jwu.edu/news/stories/magazine/2025/spring/ai-in-the-classroom/index.html
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
International Communication Association
National Communication Association
Smalls, A.
Bonnie Bennett and the Magic of Fandom
McFarland
115-128
Smalls, A.
All new, all different? A history of race and the American superhero
Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics
12
5
1149-1151
The Role of Curses in Jujutsu Kaisen: A Reflection of Human Fears and Desires
Paper
International Communication Association
Denver
CO
United States
Black Media Studies: A Catalyst for Change in Mass Communications
Paper
Eastern Communication Association
Cambridge
MA
United States
Blerd Lines: Black Nerds and the Reshaping of Media Fandom
Paper
International Communication Association
Toronto
Canada
What Mass Communications Can Learn From Black Studies
Paper
National Communications Association
New Orleans
LA
United States
Fangirling While Black: An Intersectional Analysis of Media Fandom
Panel Presentation
International Communications Association
Paris
France