Emmanuelle Chimnonyerem Okorafor (She/Her) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Comparative Literature and Languages at the University of California, Riverside (U.C.R.). She holds an M.A. in Afro-Caribbean French Literature (2019), and a B.A. in French Language (2012), both from Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. Apart from these degrees, Emmanuelle has bagged many professional certifications and undergone training focused on teaching, mentoring, diversity, equity and inclusion in the United States Higher Education system. 

Currently, she is an Academic Student Employee at the University Writing Program at U.C.R. where she teaches undergraduates to produce college level writing based on the different writing genres. Prior to this role, she has taught French language to intermediate learners, lead classroom discussions in undergraduate courses focused on African Literature, United States Race and Ethnicity, Word Power tracing the Greek and Latin root words for English Language, and Ancient civilizations – Rome, Classical Greece, as well as Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World. 

Chimnonyerem’ PhD dissertation focuses on the representation of the black female body in literature, films and French comics. Nathalie Etoke, Naminata Diabate, Elizabeth Grosz, Ayo Coly amongst many others are theorists whose research on the female body direct Emmanuelle’s research. Generally, her scholarly interests include Gender Studies, Francophone and Anglophone African Literatures, Global Black Literatures, Film Studies and French Comics.  

She will be presenting a paper titled “Hair Crossings: Corporeal Resistance and Female Agency in Shérazade -17 ans, brune, frisée, les yeux verts by Leïla Sebbar” at the African Literature Association 2026 conference scheduled to take place at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Besides, she presented a paper titled “Beyond the Ark of Covenant: Relics, History, and the Nation in Francophone Retellings of the Bible” at the African Studies Association 2024 Conference in Chicago. Additionally, as a co-convener of the Tejumola Olaniyan Research Group, she recorded her first podcast in April 2025 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison under the sponsorship of The Tejumola Olaniyan Foundation. 

As an emerging scholar committed to community service, Emmanuelle is a member of the Women Caucus of the African Studies Association where she serves as an on-site committee member. Then, being a first generation and an international scholar herself, she has mentored a student in the International Student Peer Mentor Program and currently mentors another student in the First Generation Mentorship Program both at the University of California, Riverside. Besides academic engagements, she serves as a member of the worship team and volunteers to serve in other ministries such as food bank, Guest Chef amongst many others in her faith family. 

Emmanuelle is a lifelong learner and is open to training opportunities that will enhance her academic research, teaching and community service competency as an emerging scholar. During quarter breaks or holidays, she enjoys spending time with her biological, faith, and foster families. Participating in Book clubs, cooking, singing gospels, watching comedy, and listening to Christian music are other forms of relaxation Emmanuelle engages in. This link takes you to her Curriculum Vitae.