Dr. Sheena C. Howard is an award- winning author, filmmaker and scholar. In 2014 Sheena became the first Black woman to win an Eisner Award for her first book, Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation (2013). The Eisner Awards are considered the ‘Oscars of Comics’. She is also the author of several critically acclaimed books and comics books. In 2017, Sheena published the Encyclopedia of Black Comics, which is the first book of its kind, profiling over 100 Black people in the comics industry. The Encyclopedia of Black Comics was named the 2018 American Library Associations’ Outstanding Reference Source. In 2021, Dr. Howard was the editor of "Why Wakanda Matters: What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication" featuring insightful perspectives on cognitive dissonance, intergenerational trauma and resistance, social identity, collective identity, and cultural and racial identity.

In 2014, Sheena published Black Queer Identity Matrix and Critical Articulations of Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation. Sheena is the co-writer of the comic book, Superb about a teenage superhero with Down Syndrome.

She has appeared on NPR (National Public Radio), ABC, BBC, PBS as well as other networks and documentaries as an expert on popular culture, politics and social justice. Sheena is the subject of a 2018 Emmy-nominated episode of State of the Arts, which airs on NJTV and WHYY.

In 2016, Sheena directed, produced and wrote the documentary Remixing Colorblind, which explores the ways the educational system shapes our perception of race. Parts of the documentary were filmed at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Lehigh University and Drexel University. The film premiered at The Ritz Landmark theatre in Philadelphia. Sheena organized and hosted a talk about race and education at the Philadelphia Main Library in 2017 as a part of her documentary tour in which proceeds from the event went to local non-profit organizations.

Sheena has twice received a Proclamation from the City of Philadelphia for her literary work, social justice and creative projects. Sheena was born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia. She now has one child, is a Professor at Rider University in the Department of Communication and Journalism. Outside of her full-time job, Sheena spends time writing and speaking to organizations and educational institutions on a variety of topics including social justice, diversity, and representation.

The "Why Wakanda Matters" talk offers an insightful examination of mental health, self-care, and identity through captivating storytelling and community building. This isn't just a discussion about a film; it's an exploration of how film and the power of symbols can foster a strong and healthy sense of self but also inspire us to tell our own stories and create our own futures. It’s an invitation to understand the deeper narratives that shape our perceptions and experiences.

Crafting Your Own Narrative

The "Why Wakanda Matters" talk goes beyond mere discussion—it's a catalyst for personal and communal storytelling. It encourages attendees to harness the power of their own narratives to shape the world they aspire to live in. This session serves as a clarion call for individuals to use their voices and the resources at their disposal to forge change. By telling our own stories, we not only define our identities but also create avenues to inspire and empower those around us. It's about recognizing the strength that lies in expression and the transformative impact it can have on our world. Through this talk, participants will be emboldened to craft and share their experiences, becoming active participants in the construction of a future rich with diverse voices and empowered communities.

Bridging Cultures: Inspiring Audiences

As we honor Black History, the session stands out as a beacon for unity, drawing lessons from the rich narrative of Wakanda that change the single-dimensional iconography of often stereotyped groups. This talk is set to challenge and inspire, breaking down barriers and highlighting our shared human experiences. It promises to leave a lasting impact, providing attendees with perspectives that transcend the identities we box ourselves into.

Community Building and the Self

In today's social media-driven world, we can learn the importance of community through the movie Black Panther. This part of the talk will encourage participants to build community intentionally and with care. It will address the importance of finding one's community in order to thrive and grow – which social media is a great place to facilitate “finding our people.” Participants will walk away with a newfound use of social media in which they will be empowered to best suit their mental health and self-care needs.

This talk can be tailored towards specific audience needs.

The stories we tell ourselves and others shape the outcomes of our lives. Dr. Sheena C. Howard, award-winning author and writer for Marvel and DC comics, shares powerful insights on breaking through labels, cultivating self-belief, and maintaining integrity. Through her own experiences as a creative entrepreneur, scholar, and domestic abuse survivor, she shows how anyone can overcome adversity and create a life they are proud of. In this compelling talk, participants will learn how to turn challenges into opportunities by being accountable, believing in themselves, and embracing a strong work ethic.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of self-belief and integrity in personal growth.
• Recognize how to overcome internal and external barriers to success.
• Cultivate accountability and take full responsibility for their life's direction.
• Develop a strong work ethic that fuels long-term pride and confidence.

Intended Audience: Outgoing seniors, student athletes, first-year students, business and communication students, creative writing students, and the entire student body.

Today’s technological tools allow us to build, engage and monetize our creative content in ways we’ve never seen before. The online space is crowded and cluttered, but creatives today can cut through the noise by discovering what makes them powerful. The sooner you can learn the power of these technological tools, outside of using them to stay in touch with friends or family, the sooner you can be on your way to creating successful side-hustles and lucrative businesses.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Connect with their audiences by using the 1000 True Fans Concept.
• Understand the power of social media for entrepreneurs and how to use it to their benefit.
• Understand the life cycle of a personal brand as well as digital/ physical products in the online world.
• Apply the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to personal branding and product branding.
• Letting go of vanity metrics like “going viral”.

Intended Audience: business and communication students, creative writing and creative arts students, entrepreneurship programs, fraternity members, sorority members, the entire student body.

Why are you absolutely committed to reaching success on your terms? In this presentation, Dr. Howard helps participants explore the power of taking 100% responsibility for their life and their outcomes. With real-world examples from her own career, including writing for major comics and overcoming personal challenges, she demonstrates the power of commitment, resourcefulness, and self-determination. Attendees will be inspired to stay the course, no matter the obstacles, and will leave with the tools to take action toward their goals.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
• Take full responsibility for their success and personal growth.
• Stay committed to their vision despite setbacks.
• Use resourcefulness to maximize opportunities around them.
• Understand the importance of enrolling others in their vision for success.

Intended Audience: Creative entrepreneurs, business and communication students, student leaders, and anyone striving to break through limitations.

Everyone has their own goals. However, I firmly believe that the work you publish has a higher purpose. Your research is meant to reach others and impact the people you write for and about.

Visibility around you and your work increases your ability to book speaking engagements, puts you in front of organizations that you want to collaborate with, engages with the people that matter most, has the ability to influence public policy and has significant positive effects on your academic career.

Training topics covered – 1.5-hour session

1 hour talk
• 9 step system to increased visibility, authority and income for educators and academics.
• Mindset
• Vision setting
• Brand building (Brand identity)
• Media strategy
• Media placement strategy
• Media Blitz
• Protect Your Future
• Build Equity in Your Brand

15-minute interactive session
• Create your brand statement
• Identify your brand adjectives
15-minute interactive Q and A
• Including but not limited to workshop for participants brand statements/ adjectives

Participants will leave this training with actionable items to build their brand based on their academic credentials. Participants will finish these sessions with a brand statement and their brand adjectives so they have a better understanding of their social media strategy, which can be implemented immediately upon concluding this training. Participants will also receive a PDF template of an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) and an extensive brand strategy guide template.

This talk focuses on my work as a writer and how I use it to impact my community through a framework I call "The Creators Empowerment Journey". It's a system creative entrepreneurs in any field can use to move from a representation focus to an economic empowerment focus. Participants will learn how creative entrepreneurship can be a powerful economic engine for the Black community through a few simple principles. They will also learn how they too can support the growth and empowerment of Black/Brown communities.

• Describe a Creators Empowerment Journey.
• Moving from creating for self to an economic empowerment engine.
• Evaluate the importance of buying power vs. money circulation.
• Conduct bi-directional process of empowerment.
• Define community building/connection vs. superficial metrics (likes, RT, follows, etc.).
• Moving from representation (micro-level) to economic empowerment (macro-level).
• Illustrate Creator Empowerment Framework in action.