About Me

I am an Associate Professor of Critical Ethnic Studies and Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.  I received my PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Iowa in May 2017.  I have an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Iowa, an M.A. in Islam and the West from Queen Mary, University of London and an M.A. in Bioethics from Case Western Reserve University.

My research interests include Islam in the Americas, Islam and gender, digital identity, , religion and media, material religion, and Black performativity.

Currently, I am conducting research tentatively for my book entitled, Fashioning Black Islam, which provides an overview of Black Muslim fashion in the United States from 1930s to the present. I explore how Black Muslim fashion designers, stylists, and social media taste makers use clothing to challenge Arab-centrism in American Islam as well as white supremacist beauty standards.

I am the curator of the #BlackIslamSyllabus:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1avhgPrW30AFjegzV9X5aPqkZUA3uGd0-BZr9_zhArtQ

You can contact me at wheelerk8@xavier.edu.

Here is an updated copy of my CV:  Wheeler, Kayla-CV-3.15.18