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Rhaisa Williams is an Assistant Professor in the Theater department at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. Her research employs mixed-archive methods that encompass literature, family history, archives, and public policy to explore the intersections of Blackness, motherhood, affect, and modes of freedom. Currently, she is working on a manuscript titled "Mama, Don’t Weep: Motherhood, Blackness, Performances of Grief" which examines the intimate relationship between grief, Black motherhood, and the civil rights movement. The book provides a nuanced reading of grief, asserting that the experiences of Black women in their personal relationships and practices of othermothering are mobilized as a tactical performance of citizenship. In 2020, she co-edited a special issue on Toni Morrison’s influence in performance studies and has published works in journals such as College Literature and Theatre Journal. Rhaisa has received support from prestigious foundations including the Mellon, Woodrow Wilson, and Ford foundations, and her scholarly work continues to contribute to important discussions surrounding Black motherhood and performance.
Princeton University • Princeton, NJ
Teaches courses in Theater and directs research on Blackness and motherhood.
GRE scores are not accepted. Ph.D. is the primary degree; students are not required to hold an M.S.E. prior to admission.