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Faculty
Faculty

Dominic McKenzie, M.A., ACB (he/him/his)

Assistant Professor of Digital Storytelling

  • Media, Journalism, Film & Communication
  • School of Communications

Biography

Dominic McKenzie is a tenure-track assistant professor of digital storytelling in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. Most recently, he was director of the Journalism program at Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, Ala. There, he was the chief architect and sole researcher behind their recently launched Bachelor of Science and Arts degrees in Journalism. Prior to that, he worked at Spectrum News as a reporter, covering stories on health, politics, and the Caribbean diaspora. While there, his stories often aired across Spectrum News stations and CNN affiliates across the United States. 

McKenzie holds a Master of Arts degree in Journalism and a Postgraduate Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurial Journalism from the renowned Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He was Class Speaker at his commencement ceremony.

He takes special research interest in journalism curriculum development and assessment, international student populations at historically Black universities, cannabis regulation & research and politics.

McKenzie worked as reporter/show host/producer at NCU 91 FM in his native Jamaica. There, he was the youngest live radio show host in Jamaica at the time, in a prime-time spot. With a love for service to his home, he served as district leader in the USA northeast region of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council and was vice president of communication for the Jamaican American Youth Alliance, a New York City-based organization.

McKenzie served as an adjunct journalism professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica. He sees this as part of his effort to positively impact the development of the Journalism industry in Jamaica. He also serves as a judge for the Press Association of Jamaica National Journalism Awards.

In 2021, he was named recipient of the Consul General of Jamaica, New York, Heritage Award. The award recognizes the outstanding service of Jamaicans living in the U.S., within their own spheres of influence and the wider Jamaican community. Accompanying this award was a citation from the New York State Senate. In 2020, he was shortlisted for the Prime Minister of Jamaica’s Youth Award for Excellence in Journalism, the highest honor a young Jamaican can receive from the nation’s government.

Education & Expertise

Education

Entrepreneurial Journalism

Advanced Postgraduate Certificate
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York

Journalism (emphases in Politics, Data & Broadcast Reporting)

Master of Arts
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York
Class Speaker

Communication Media: Broadcast Journalism

Bachelor of Arts
Oakwood University

Academics

Academics

Multimedia Storytelling

Working for Campus Media

Introduction to Digital Journalism

Research

Research

Specialty

HBCU Journalism Curriculum Development, International Student Learning in U.S. Journalism Schools, Healthcare in Elderly LGBTQIA+ Populations, Cannabis Legislation

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Launch of New Bachelor of Science and Arts Degrees in Journalism

Lead research and development for the creation and approval of two Bachelor's degrees in Journalism at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. Programs were approved by the University Board and launched in Fall 2023. The program came with the addition of 12 new courses, including Public Affairs Reporting, Narrative Writing and Social Newsgathering.

Consul General of Jamaica to New York Heritage Award

Awarded to Jamaicans in the diaspora for outstanding service within their own spheres of influence and the wider Jamaican community.

Citation, New York State Senate

Citation honoring work in the Journalism industry in the U.S. and Jamaica.