In December 2022, Dr. Melanie Lindsay was appointed as the first full-time professor of Ethnic Studies at Moreno Valley College. A passionate educator committed to shaping the next generation of scholars, Dr. Lindsay has already made a lasting impact. She established the Moreno Valley College Student Oral History Archive, founded the Sankofa Activist (Ethnic Studies) Club, and serves as co-advisor to the Black Student Union. As a dedicated social justice advocate, activist, writer, speaker, and scholar, Dr. Lindsay works tirelessly to inspire and uplift her students. Dr. Lindsay holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate University, along with a Master’s degree in the same field. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s in Social Science from California State University, San Bernardino. Additionally, she received her Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from Riverside City College. Her research focuses on activism and the abolition of conventional forms of self-care, exploring the intersections of class, gender, race, and sexuality. Through a close reading of the works of Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, and Patrisse Cullors, she developed the concept of abolitionist self-care. This concept is informed by primary research materials, including resources from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Lesbian Herstory Archives in New York.Dr. Lindsay’s work asks whether the writings and activism of these three Black feminists offer a sustainable model of self-care—one that is particularly relevant for marginalized communities living under oppressive conditions. She challenges the commodified, individualistic nature of modern self-care literature, while examining how Black feminist intellectuals ethically enact their practices. Dr. Lindsay’s accomplishments have earned her several honors, including the 2021 Transdisciplinary Dissertation Award, the Grace Berry Award, the Friedman Grant, and the Mosaic Inclusivity Excellence Award. She is currently working on her first book, set to be published in 2026. |
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Dr. Jiles teaches ETS-1 Introduction to Ethnic Studies, ETS/HIS 14 &15 African American History, and ETS-3 Introduction to African American Studies. His approach to advising and teaching is community and student center. He is the co-advisor of two student clubs at MVC which include the Black Student Union and the Sankofa Activist Club. He also advises and mentors students in the Umoja and A2Mend programs. His research interests include African American community and inter and intra group politics, comparative and relational Ethnic Studies, Black queer studies, Black feminism, and Black popular culture and Black visual culture online. An overall focus of his research is on how Black people respond collectively to systems of oppression and build community. Currently, Dr. Jiles sits on the board of directors for the non-profit organization Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors (PSS14 Survivors) which successfully fought for reparations from the city of Palm Springs California for the forced removal of Black and Mexican families from a working-class community called Section 14 in the 20th century. He is a descendant of Section 14. In December 2025, Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors won a historic settlement. He has participated in numerous PSS14 activations and gives public presentations and talks about Section 14 history. |
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Dr. Robert D. Jiles is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies and African American Studies at Moreno Valley College. He is a former Riverside City College non-traditional college student who transferred to California State University, San Bernardino and earned a B.A. in English Composition and Literature and became a McNair Scholar. He completed a Master’s in Africana Studies at Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies with a graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.