Imani M. Cheers

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Imani M. Cheers is an Associate Professor of Digital Storytelling at George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs, where she has spent more than 13 years across faculty, faculty-in-residence, and administrative roles. She also serves as Director of Academic Adventures for Planet Forward and Head of Production at Zuri Productions, a Washington, DC-based storytelling and documentary production agency.

Dr. Cheers earned her B.F.A. in Photography from Washington University in St. Louis and her M.A. in African Studies and Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Howard University.

An award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker, Dr. Cheers uses video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting people of the African Diaspora. Her scholarly framework of "cultural curation" underpins a body of work examining the intersection of women/girls, technology, health, conflict, agriculture, and the effects of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. She is also a leading expert on diversity in Hollywood, with a focus on the representation of Black women in television and film.

She is the author of three books: The Evolution of Black Women in Television: Mammies, Matriarchs, and Mistresses(Routledge/Taylor & Francis, 2017), Sacred Sisterhoods: A Celebration of Black Women's Friendships on TV & in Film(Ohio State University Press, 2025), and Framing Fatherhood: A Celebration of Black Fathers (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2025) — the latter two accompanied by companion podcast series. Her work has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the International Reporting Project, and a John W. Kluge Center Digital Studies Fellowship at the Library of Congress (2023–2024).

Beyond GW, Dr. Cheers leads Kipaji Lab, a film production training program she has run in Kenya and Central America. She is a regular contributor to international outlets including BBC, CGTN America, and CTV Canada, offering insight into American race relations and popular culture. In 2017, she received GW's Graduate Mentoring Award, and in 2019, the Staub Excellence in Teaching Award.