February 13, 2024
The Office of Academic Affairs at Mississippi Valley State University is excited to announce Mrs. LaTonzia Dorsey-Evans as the 2023-2024 Humanities Teacher of the Year.
Dorsey-Evans is an Instructor of English for the English and Foreign Languages Department of MVSU.
During her recognition, she will present a lecture entitled “Moving the Crowd: The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Social Justice.”
The lecture will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Business Administration Building in the Cliff E. Williams Auditorium.
Dorsey-Evans explains, “During my research of the Black Arts Movement, I noticed similarities between spoken word and the development of Hip-Hop. Along with this, I also noticed use of art as a social justice tool. This year marks 50th year of Hip-Hop, and I wanted to honor the activism of the genre in my lecture.”
“Moving the Crowd: The intersection between Hip-Hop and Social Justice will acknowledge the history of music as a tool for activism as well as artists who produce works in response to social justices in America that primarily impact minorities,” she states.
Dorsey-Evans, who is from Mayersville, MS, is currently working on Doctorate at The University of Memphis in African American Literature and Cultural Studies. Her research interest includes the Black Arts Movement, African American Literature, and Hip-Hop. She also holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from William Carey University.
Before working at MVSU, Dorsey-Evans worked for the South Delta High School as the 11th and 12th grade English teacher for a year. After her year at South Delta, she began working at MVSU as the Sophomore Year Experience Coordinator in University College.
For more information about MVSU’s Humanities Teacher of the Year Award, contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 662-254-3875.