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Rikki Byrd
EDUCATION

The New School

Parsons School of Design
Master of Arts in Fashion Studies, May 2016
Thesis: Black, the Color We Wear: Representing Blackness in
American Fashion

University of Missouri-Columbia
School of Journalism
Bachelor of Journalism, May 2013
Minor in Black Studies

POSITIONS HELD
Washington Fashion History and 2016
University-St. Louis Research Methods
Lecturer

The New School Introduction to 2015-2016

Fashion Studies
Teachers Assistant

The New School Fashion Cultures 2016

Teachers Assistant

The New School Research Assistant 2016

Nadia Williams

The New School Research Assistant 2015

Dr. Christina Moon

Premier Charter Introduction to 2013

School Journalism
After-School
Instructor

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PUBLICATIONS
Guest Editor
Open Space: Black Fashion Studies. International Journal of
Fashion Studies
(forthcoming 2017).

New Media
Byrd, Rikki and Kimberly Jenkins. The Fashion and Race Syllabus,
2016.
(online: www.fashionandrace.wordpress.com)

Byrd, Rikki and Kimberly Jenkins. A Queen Within: Adorned

Archetypes. Art Basel. 2016.
(exhibition text)

Founder and Executive Editor

SCULPT Magazine, 2010-Present.

Peer-reviewed
Byrd, Rikki. We Were What No One Else Had: How Black Fashion
Models Constructed a New Wave of Performativity and Visibility.
Companion to African American Theatre
and Performance.
(forthcoming 2017)

Byrd, Rikki. On the Black Designer. The Fashion Studies Journal,

2016.

Byrd, Rikki. Various Poems. We Are the Words We Write. 2012.

Byrd, Rikki. Looking the Part: The Liberation and Criminalization of

Black Men Through Style and
Adornment. BIAS Journal of Dress Practice, 2016.

Book Chapters
Byrd, Rikki. Fashioning FreedomAfrican-American Arts: Activism
and Aesthetics.
(forthcoming 2017)

Online
Insights
Byrd, Rikki. Black the Color We Wear: The Temporality of Blackness
in American Fashion.
Insights, 2015.

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Medium
Byrd, Rikki. To Go Wherever We Please: Blackness, Traveling and
Freedom. Medium,
2016.

ManRepeller
Byrd, Rikki. A Jazz Artist on Her Love for Music and Vintage
Clothing. ManRepeller, 2016.

Byrd, Rikki. Five Women of Color Get Real About the Fashion
Industry. ManRepeller,
2016.

Byrd, Rikki. A Harlem Tribute. ManRepeller. 2016.

Mic
Byrd, Rikki. FITs Black Fashion Designers Exhibit is a Celebration of
Fashions Unsung Heroes. Mic, 2016.

Byrd, Rikki. How One Designer Is Getting Us To Talk About Mental

Illness at New York Fashion
Week. Mic, 2016.

Byrd, Rikki. There Is A Fashion Week Happening in the Midwest

Right Now Heres Why It
Matters. Mic, 2015.

Byrd, Rikki: This Designer Stopped Everyone In Their Tracks With a

Fashion Show About Police
Brutality. Mic, 2015.

Byrd, Rikki. Heres What Women Really Think of Fashions Sudden

Embrace of Natural Hair. Mic,
2016.

ALIVE
Byrd, Rikki. How Local Art for Justice Gained the Attention of the
Smithsonian. ALIVE,
2016.

Byrd, Rikki. A Conversation with Dario Calmese About Beyonc,

Black Lives Matter and Young
Artists. ALIVE, 2016.

Byrd, Rikki. St. Louis Fashion Archives: St. Louisian Kay Thompson
Wears Prada. ALIVE, 2016.

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Byrd, Rikki. St. Louis Fashion Archives: A Look Inside The 1983 Miss
Universe Pageant in STL.
ALIVE, 2016.

Byrd, Rikki. St. Louis Fashion Archives: The Illustrious Style of

Josephine Baker. ALIVE, 2016.

BUSTLE
Byrd, Rikki. This Magazine Cover Opened A Convo We NEED to
Have. Bustle, 2015.

Byrd, Rikki. Why Home Is Important For Girls Who Are Natural.
Bustle, 2015.

Byrd, Rikki. Black History Month Photo Series Celebrates Icons.

Bustle, 2015.

Byrd, Rikki. Beyond Classically Beautiful Pix Will Move You. Bustle,
2015.

Byrd, Rikki. This Natural Hair Brand Is Making Big Moves. Bustle,
2014.

Byrd, Rikki. 10 Fashion Editorials Filled With Controversy. Bustle,

2014.

Byrd. Rikki. Fashion Week Still Doesnt Get Diversity. Bustle, 2014.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

The New School 2016 Black the Color Presenter

Parsons We Wear:
Festival-New Representing
York, New York Blackness in
American
Fashion

Popular 2016 Looking the Presenter

Culture/Americ (accepted, was Part: The
an Culture not able to Liberation and
Association- attend) Criminalization
Seattle, of Masculinity
Washington Via Style and
Adornment

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Popular 2015 Black the Color Presenter

Culture/Americ We Wear: The
an Culture Temporality of
Association Blackness in
New Orleans, American
Louisiana Fashion

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

The New School 2016 Fashion and Founder and

Diversity Event Co-Organizer
Series

The New School 2015 Afrofuturism External

Conference Communication
s Coordinator

University of 2012-2013 National Press and

Missouri Association for Publicity Chair
the
Advancement of
Colored People

University of 2009-2013 National Member and

Missouri Association of Mentor
Black
Journalists

SPEAKING AND PERFORMANCES

Washington 2017 African Guest Speaker

University St. American
Louis Studies Brown
Bag Lunch
Lindenwood 2017 Industry Expert Guest Speaker
University Talk

Missouri 2016 Made in STL: A Panelist

History Conversation
Museum with Local
Fashion
Designers

Missouri 2016 Culture and Moderator

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History Couture Panel

Museum Discussion

The New School 2016 2016 Speaker

Department of Departmental
Art, Design, Commencement
History, and
Theory

The New School 2016 Fashion Panel Moderator

Afrofuturism
Conference

University of 2013 Black Women Spoken Word

Missouri Rock! Awards Artist
Ceremony

University of 2013 The Amen Performer

Missouri Corner (Odessa)

University of 2012 Black Women Spoken Word

Missouri Rock! Awards Artist
Ceremony

University of 2012 Delta Sigma Spoken Word

Missouri Theta Domestic Artist
Violence
Fundraiser

University of 2011 Fences Performer

Missouri (Raynell)

Unity in 2011 Columbia (MO) Performer

Diversity Values Diversity (Ensemble)
Celebration

GRANTS AND FUNDING

Funding for programming, organizations, etc.

Fashion and $5,000 Student 2015-2016

Diversity Event Programming
Series Award

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Give STL Day $20, 750 Crowdsourcing 2014

Mission: St. Online
Louis Campaign

Mission: St. $90,000 Various Grants 2013-2014

Louis
Programming

Funding awarded for education, research, etc.

Parsons The $1,000 Travel Grant 2015
New School of
Design

Support $1,000 Graduate 2014-2015

Creativity Scholarship

Parsons The $11,200 Deans Award 2014-2016

New School of
Design

Parsons The $8,600 University 2014-2016

New School of Merit Award
Design

Parsons The $9,500 University 2014-2016

New School of Scholars
Design Award

University of $2,500 Multicultural 2012

Missouri Scholarship

University of $1,000 TRiO 2011

Missouri Scholarship

University of $10,000 Diversity Award 2009-2013

Missouri

HONORS AND AWARDS

The New School Outstanding Student 2016

Office of Student Program of the Year
Development and (Fashion and
Activities Diversity Event
Series)

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Association for Award 2013

Education in
Journalism and Mass
Communication Start-
Up Magazine

University of Missouri Humanitarian Award 2013

Delta Sigma Theta
Rising 22

University of Missouri Rising Star Award 2013

Black Women Rock!

University of Missouri Deans List 2011, 2012, 2013

School of Journalism

University of Missouri Deans List 2009, 2010, 2011

School of Arts and
Sciences

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD

St. Louis Program 2016-2017 Organized design

Fashion Fund Manager challenge
collaboration
between World
Chess Hall of
Fame and St.
Louis Fashion
Incubator

The New School Media 2014-2016 Planned weekly

Department of Coordinator social media
Art, Design, content through
History and Hootsuite for
Twitter, Facebook
Theory
and Instagram

Creative Time Communication 2015 Led

Incorporated s and communications
Marketing and development
Intern department in
drafting the
organization's
2014 annual

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report

Mission: St. Community 2013-2014 Researched and

Louis Relations wrote grants
Coordinator helping the
organization gain
more than
$90,000 in
funding toward
programs

ManRepeller Contributing 2016-Present Contributed

Writer articles on
fashion and
diversity

Mic Contributing 2015-Present Attended Pyer

Writer Moss New York
Fashion Week
show //
Interviewed
founder and
creative
director // To
date, story has
been read more
than 100,000
times on website
and shared more
than 7,000 times

ALIVE Contributing 2013-Present Launched St.

Writer Louis Fashion
Archives and
reported on
local stories

Bustle Contributing 2014-2015 Covered local

Writer fashion previews,
clothing and
beauty launches

ALIVE Editorial 2013 Met crucial

Assistant deadlines, such
as copyediting
and fact-checking
the book before it

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went to print and

managing weekly
event requests
for
photographers

MBS Textbooks Direct Client 2012-2013 Researched more

Services Intern than 100 colleges
and universities
online programs
to assist
supervisor with
obtaining new
accounts

St. Louis Arts Marketing 2011 Worked closely

Regional Arts Intern with Marketing
Commission Director to
develop and
design fliers for
events hosted
and sponsored
by Commission

University of Office Assistant 2010-2012 Assisted chair of

Missouri Black Black Studies
Studies Program, Dr.
Program Wilma King, with
editing footnotes
for second
edition book

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