Jamila Moore Pewu, Ph.D.

Biography

Jamila Moore Pewu is a public and digital historian whose work explores how and why groups and individuals reimagine the spaces around them to create new urban futures.  She is particularly interested in examining the concept of reimagining through the unique historical, geographic and methodological perspectives posed by African Diasporic and or Black Atlantic communities both past and present.  As Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities and New Media in History at California State University, Fullerton, Dr. Moore Pewu leads the History department’s digital humanities initiatives which include organizing a regular DH colloquium series, hosting a DH student Symposium, facilitating a six-week DH professional development workshop for master’s students, and teaching introductory and advanced practicum courses in Digital History.  In addition, she teaches survey and upper division courses in U.S. History, African History, and Historical Research and Writing. 

Before pursuing a career in academia Dr. Moore Pewu worked at the Museum of African American History in Boston (2003-2004) where she first developed a passion for public history.  As such, she strives to increase public access to vital historical data, while also creating opportunities for first generation college students within the digital humanities.  Moore Pewu currently serves as project director for  Mapping Arts OC , a public digital humanities project that maps public art and underrepresented artists in Orange County.  She also serves as co-curator and head digital curator of the Restoration and Reunion exhibit currently on display at the Housatonic Museum of Art , Bridgeport CT.  This groundbreaking exhibit brings scholars and artist together for the first time to interpret the history of a forgotten nineteenth century African diasporic historic site.  

Dr. Moore Pewu’s work has received generous support from the National Science Foundation’s Geography and Spatial Sciences Program, The California Humanities, The Graham Foundation for Advanced Study in Fine Art, The Social Science Research Council and several internal awards from California State University Fullerton.