Christina L. Myers, assistant professor in the School of Journalism has been accepted into the 2026 cohort of the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute (HLI), a prestigious national leadership-development program for higher education professionals.
Founded in 1972, the HERS Leadership Institute has built a track record of preparing women and gender-diverse leaders across the United States to tackle systemic challenges in higher education. The program’s curriculum centers on equity, institutional leadership, and inclusive decision-making, equipping participants to advance transformative change at their institutions.
“My acceptance into the HERS Leadership Institute is a pivotal milestone in my professional journey and commitment to transformative leadership in higher education,” Myers said. “The institute’s immersive curriculum and national network of women leaders will deepen my ability to enact meaningful, equity-centered change, strengthen collaborative decision-making, and support both student and faculty success.”
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Myers holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (with a minor in Chemistry), a master’s in Mass Communication and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication — all from the University of South Carolina. She joined MSU in Aug. 2022 as a tenure-track assistant professor.
Myers employs qualitative methods and grounds her work at the intersection of Critical Race Theory and mass communication theory. Her research focuses on how Black experiences are depicted in music, sports and news media — especially scrutinizing implicit racial bias, racist ideologies and systemic stereotypes in media narratives.
Her dissertation, titled “Power, Poison, Pain & Joy”: Implicit Racial Bias & Defining Blackness in Black Sports Commentary, Black Music and Black Storytelling, presents a Critical Race Conceptual Model of implicit bias — challenging conventional representations and amplifying marginalized voices often overlooked in mainstream media.
“This opportunity is especially significant to my role in Journalism, where cultivating inclusive learning environments, elevating marginalized voices, and advancing innovative academic practices are central to my mission,” Myers said. “I look forward to bringing the strategies, frameworks, and insights gained through HERS back to my department to drive innovation, build capacity, and help shape a more dynamic and equitable academic community.”
Myers also brings to the classroom her extensive experience as a freelance journalist. Her previous roles include equity reporter for The State newspaper, political reporter for the Associated Press and national-desk writer for the NBC News Channel. Through her academic and professional work, she is committed to fostering critical discourse around race, representation and media ethics — preparing her students to engage with journalism as both a craft and a vehicle for social change.
By Claire Dippel