Tameka Ellington, Ph.D.

Dr. Tameka N. Ellington, Associate Professor of Design at the Kent State University (KSU) Fashion School and Interim Assistant Dean for the College of the Arts. Her creative scholarship is inspired by African art and folklore. Her work has been shown internationally including two exhibitions in Beijing, China. She publishes research in the discipline of social-psychological aspects of dress for African Americans and other minorities, such as people with disabilities. Her publications on hair have reached national and international recognition via peer-reviewed journals as well as dress and culture encyclopedias. She has two upcoming projects which include an exhibition entitled, “TEXTURES: The History and Art of Black Hair,” opening at the KSU museum Fall 2021, and Dr. Tameka is also writing an anthology entitled, “Navigating the Black Hair Phenomenon in a White World,” being released Spring 2021.

Dr. Tameka has 30+ scholarly presentations and 25+ non-academic keynote presentations. Dr. Tameka has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work including her most recent: 2019 First Generation Advocate Award, 2018 Ohio Board of Trustees banquet awarded hosted by KSU’s Provost Diacon, 2017 Alumni Legacy Award, The Alumni Legacy Award is given annually to recognize an alumnus for their distinguished contributions and extraordinary service in the areas of diversity and social justice, 2017 International Textile and Apparel Association Rising Star Award, the 2016 Distinguished Faculty Service Award for her dedication to the advancement of her students and colleagues, and the 2015 Award for Outstanding Leadership in Student Access, Recruitment Retention and Success. She was also honored to have KSU President Warren congratulate her on her contributions during the state of the university address. Dr. Tameka is also the CEO and Founder of the 1st Generation Revolutionaries movement. Not only is she an international acclaimed and awarded Educator and Scholar, Dr. Tameka is a Motivational Speaker, Professional Development Strategist, and 1st Generation Advocate.

Dr. Tameka is also the CEO and Founder of the 1st Generation Revolutionaries movement. Not only is she an international acclaimed and awarded Educator and Scholar, Dr. Tameka is a Motivational Speaker, Professional Development Strategist, and 1st Generation Advocate. Dr. Tameka is the author of Make Fear Your Superpower, a witty and real memoir that speaks to the inner courage that we all possess. She will be releasing her second book, Be The GOAT: A Career Readiness Manual She is dedicated to helping others face their fears so that they can have the power to challenge their way of being. Her mantra is, “Revolutionize Your Thinking!”

Publication and Exhibitions

Refereed Publications

• Ellington, Tameka N. (2018). African American Dress from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade through the Twenty-first Century.  Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. In J. B. Eicher & D. H. Ross New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Ellington, Tameka N. (2017). Underrepresented: The Lack of Black Designers Featured in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. The Seneca Falls Dialogue Journal - Lean Out: Gender, Economics, and Enterprise, 2 (7), 93-116.
• Ellington, Tameka N. & Lim, Stacey. (2017). Rendered powerless:  Disability versus Westernized beauty standards. QED: A Journal of GLBTQ Worldmaking, 4(3), 170-176.
• Ellington, Tameka N., Hahn, Kim, & McLeod, Harriet. (2017). A Case Study: Fashion Design and Merchandising Core Assessment to improve overall future curriculum. International Journal of Home Economics, 10(1), 30-40.
• Ellington, Tameka N. (2017). I’m free now! A cognitive generalization of the self through experiences: The self-esteem and self-schema of African American women wearing natural hair. International Federation of Home Economics (full paper publication on the website)
• Ellington, Tameka N. (2017). Cornrows. Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. In J. B. Eicher & D. H. Ross New York, NY: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.5040/9781847888594-EDch41311-ED
• Ellington, Tameka N. (2015). Natural Hair. Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. In J. B. Eicher & D. H. Ross. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/BEWDF/EDch31011
• Ellington, Tameka N., (2014) Do-rag. Encyclopedia of Ethnic Clothing in the United States. In M. Strauss & A. Lynch (Eds.) Lanham, MD: Alta Mira Press. ISBNs: 9780759121485, 9780759121492, and 9780759121508
• *Ellington, Tameka N. (2015), Social Networking Sites: A Support System for African American Women Wearing Natural Hair International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education 8(1), 21-29.
• *Ellington, Tameka N. (2014), Bloggers, vloggers and a virtual sorority: A means of support for African American women wearing natural hair, Journalism and Mass Communication, 4(9), 552-564.


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International and National Juried Exhibitions

• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, St. Petersburg, Florida, November 2017.  Ellington, Tameka N., “Bògòlanfini in Leather.” 134 professional designs were submitted with an acceptance rate of 38%.
• Wearable Expressions 7th International Juried Exhibition, Palos Verdes Art Center, Los Angeles, CA, February 10 – April 16, 2017. Ellington, Tameka N., How the Zebra Got it’s Stripes.  Jurors Joris Debo from Belgium, Jo Ann C. Stabb from the USA, and Beatrijs Sterk from Germany. Acceptance rate unavailable.
• RAGS 2017 Wearable Arts Sale and Show, 20th Anniversary, Tacoma Washington, March 2017. Ellington, Tameka N., “Amma’s Chaos and Order.” Unknown Jurors. Acceptance rate unavailable.
• RAGS 2017 Wearable Arts Sale and Show, 20th Anniversary, Tacoma Washington, March 2017. Ellington, Tameka N., “The Origin of Anansi the Spider.” Unknown Jurors. Acceptance rate unavailable.
• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, Vancouver, Canada, November 2016. Ellington, Tameka N., “The Origin of Anansi the Spider.” 111 professional designs were submitted with an acceptance rate of 45%.
• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, Vancouver, Canada, November 2016. Ellington, Tameka N. and Peterson, Emma L., “Amma’s Chaos and Order.” 111 professional designs were submitted with an acceptance rate of 45%.
• International Foundations of Fashion Technology Institutes, Beijing China, March 2016. Ellington, Tameka N. and Peterson, Emma L., “Amma’s Chaos and Order.” 15entries in the IFFTI Design Exhibition/Presentation for presentation by a panel of six jurors, with a total acceptance rate of 65%.
• Costume Society of America’s National Symposium, The Full Cleveland: Dress as Communication, Self-Expression and Identity, May 2016. Ellington, Tameka N. “Singed: How the zebra got its stripes.” Unknown Jurors. Acceptance rate unavailable.
• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, SantéFe, NM, November 2015.  Ellington, Tameka N. and Sophia Adodo, “Royal Mbebana.” 115 designs were accepted for the live gallery exhibit, with a total acceptance rate of 41.7%.
• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, Santé Fe, NM, November 2015.  Ellington, Tameka N., “The Nyangatom Woman.” 115 designs were accepted for the live gallery exhibit, with a total acceptance rate of 41.7%.
• The International Textile and Apparel Association conference, Santé Fe, NM, November 2015.  Ellington, Tameka N., “Singed:  How the Zebra Got its Stripes.” 115 designs were accepted for the live gallery exhibit, with a total acceptance rate of 41.7%.
• Fantastic Fibers, Yesier Art Center, 28^th Anniversary, Paducah, KY, April 11, 2015 and June 6, 2015.  Ellington, Tameka N., “Baobab a.k.a. the Upside-down Tree.” Jurors: Marcia Young and Laverne Zabielski.  430 design submissions; 60 designs were accepted for the mounted exhibit and 105 designs were accepted for the live gallery exhibit, with a total acceptance rate of 14%.

Curated, Solo and Invited Exhibitions

• Spectrum Gallery and Bit Factory, Akron, Ohio, Ellington, Tameka N. and Lim, Stacey R., “(dis)ABLEDBEAUTY Extension Show and ALLELES guest artists’ lecture, February 17-18, 2017.
• Kent State University Museum, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, Ellington, Tameka N. and Lim, Stacey R., “(dis)ABLEDBEAUTY: The evolution of beauty, disability and ability,” July 2016 – March 2017.
• Uumbaji Gallery, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, Ellington, Tameka N., “RETOLD: African Culture and Fables Reinterpreted into Fashion,” September 12 - October 1, 2016.
• Gallery 121, Massillon, Ohio, Ellington, Tameka N., Benitez, Margarita, and Quevedo, Vincent. “Juxtapose: A Gallery Exhibition of the traditional and technological fashion creations,” February 15 – March 29, 2016.