Mary-Magdalene Chumbow

Mary-Magdalene (M.M.) Ngum Chumbow is a native Cameroonian who lived and studied in Kenya for more than a decade. She received a B.A in Communications with a major in Electronic Media and Journalism, from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, while also working as a radio presenter and producer at the school's radio station. She also worked with communication firms and digital marketing agencies in the country, all through her final years in college.  

She holds a Masters degree in International Communication & Development Studies from Ohio University, as well as a certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.  

M.M. is currently a PhD candidate and Instructor of Record in the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University, as well as the Marketing and Public Relations Director of the International Student Union. 

During her time at Ohio University, she has also acted as the Graduate Student Senate Representative for the Ohio University Center for International Studies (2017-2018), Secretary-General to the Ohio University African Students Association (2018-2019), as well as a Graduate Student Adviser at the Office for MultiCultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR).  

M.M’s research interests include gender and sexuality practices, particularly within African communities, and the roles that the media plays in promoting social change within said communities. She has particularly conducted studies on SGBV practices such as Breast Ironing and Female Genital Cutting (FGC), as well as gender stereotypes as seen and enabled by the media in African countries and among refugee communities.