Dr. Alysia Steele is a photojournalist, oral historian, author, and educator whose work explores the intersection of storytelling, history, and community. With a career spanning journalism, academia, and creative production, she is recognized for documenting the lived experiences of Black communities through both visual and oral narratives. Raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Steele developed an early interest in photography and storytelling, studying at the Harrisburg Arts Magnet School before continuing her education in journalism and photography. Her academic journey reflects both resilience and commitment, culminating in a Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Mississippi in 2024, with a focus on the Civil Rights Movement and Black women’s labor. Her professional career began in journalism, where she worked as a staff photographer and later as a photo editor. She was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team at The Dallas Morning News for Breaking News coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She later served as Deputy Director of Photography at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she led visual strategy and newsroom operations. Steele’s first book, Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, is a collection of portraits and oral histories of African American church women in Mississippi. The work earned the Preserver of Mississippi Culture Award and gained national recognition for its documentation of generational wisdom and lived experience. Her current and upcoming work continues this trajectory. She is under contract for her next book, Traces of Elaine, based on her doctoral research, and is also co-authoring a project documenting oral histories from one of the last generations to hand-pick cotton in Mississippi. Steele’s work is defined by trust-building, deep listening, and long-term engagement with communities. Her oral history approach emphasizes authenticity and respect, ensuring that stories are preserved with integrity and context. In addition to her creative and scholarly work, she has led workshops, community initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaborations that connect students, journalists, and historians. Her career reflects a commitment to documenting stories that might otherwise be lost, while creating space for dialogue, reflection, and cultural understanding.