Tomide Oloruntobi Profile

Profiles

Tomide Oloruntobi is Assistant Professor of intercultural and intergroup communication at Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University.

Tomide OloruntobiWith an award-winning interdisciplinary background, Tomide examines globalization, cultural politics of taste, platformization, and political economy in postcolonial Nigerian visual cultures. His interdisciplinary works are widely published on topics such as identity, cross-cultural adaptation, embodiment, mis- and disinformation, intergroup communication, and global Black group vitality. His current research focuses on the narrative and perceptual shifts informed by the mainstreaming of African media products, specifically Afrobeats, and their implications for global Black relationalities.

Publications include:

Oloruntobi, T. (2022). Revisiting cross-cultural adaptation: An embodied approach. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 16(4), 283–299.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2022.2120207

Oloruntobi, T. (2023). “The battle is the Lord’s”: Social media, faith-based organizations, and the challenge of Covid-19/vaccine misinformation in Nigeria. In B. M. Calafell & S. Eguchi (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of ethnicity, race, and communication (pp. 424-437). Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367748586-40

Oloruntobi, T. (2023). On intersections of power and vulnerability: A critique of Nollywood, heteropatriarchy, and ideologies of motherhood. Howard Journal of Communications, 35(3), 294–310.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10646175.2023.2264232

Oommen, D., & Oloruntobi, T. (2024). (Dis)connecting with the USA: How African international students relate with diverse communities and adapt to the United States. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2024.2430517


Work for CID:

Tomide Oloruntobi has served as a reviewer for Yoruba translations.

Comfort Tosin Adebayo Profile

Profiles

Comfort Tosin Adebayo is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Towson University, where she also serves as the Coordinator of Undergraduate Research.

Comfort Tosin AdebayoDr. Tosin Adebayo earned her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2020, where her doctoral dissertation on maternal mortality among Black women won the National Communication Association Gerald Miller Dissertation Award. She also received her M.A. in Communication from Western Illinois University and a B.A. in English from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

As an intercultural and health communication scholar, Dr. Adebayo’s work currently focuses on health disparities and intercultural communication, with a particular emphasis on Black women’s sexual and reproductive health in marginalized communities. She is deeply involved in community-based research projects, including The Sexual Violence Project in Nigeria, where she examines issues related to sexual violence and trauma among Nigerian women.

Dr. Adebayo is passionate about mentoring students, particularly international students across various levels of research engagement, and her work at Towson University reflects her unwavering commitment to student success and scholarly excellence.

Dr. Adebayo is fluent in both Yoruba and English languages.

With an award-winning interdisciplinary background, Tomide examines globalization, cultural politics of taste, platformization, and political economy in postcolonial Nigerian visual cultures. His interdisciplinary works are widely published on topics such as identity, cross-cultural adaptation, embodiment, mis- and disinformation, intergroup communication, and global Black group vitality. His current research focuses on the narrative and perceptual shifts informed by the mainstreaming of African media products, specifically Afrobeats, and their implications for global Black relationalities.

Publications include:

Suter, E., Sahlstein Parcell, E., & Adebayo C. T. (2024): Introduction: Special issue on relational dialectics theory: The past, present, and future. Journal of Family Communication, 24(3–4), 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2024.2404368

Suter, E., Sahlstein Parcell, E., Adebayo C. T., Romo, D. C. T., & Weadock, C. R. (2024). Charting a research agenda for relational dialectics theory: Forwarding critical theorizing in interpersonal and family communication research. Journal of Family Communication, 24(3–4), 177–195.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2024.2394027

Olukotun, O. V…Adebayo, C.T… (2024). Gender-based violence in the lives of Somali women with refugee status: A framework for analysis and action. Journal of Transcultural. Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596241274121

Adebayo, C. T. (2023). “I wanted it to be flowers and sunshine, but that was not it at all”: A Relational Dialectics Theory analysis of Black motherhood. Journal of Family Communication, 23(3-4), 258-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2023.2240763

Adebayo, C. T., Olukotun, O.V., Olukotun, M., Kirungi, J., Gondwe, K. W., Alfaifi, F. Y., Crooks, N. K., Singer, R. B., Dressel, A., Fahmy, L., Kako, P., Snethen, J., Adam, S., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2023). Experiences of gender-based violence among Somali refugee women: A socio-ecological model approach. Culture, Health, & Sexuality, 26(5), 654-670.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2023.2236163

Olagoke, A. A., Floyd, B., Adebayo, C. T., Owoyemi, A., & Hughes, A. M. (2022). The content of covid-19 information searches and vaccination intention: An implication for risk communication. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 17, e258.. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.257

Adebayo, C. T., Sahlstein Parcell, E., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L, & Olukotun, O. (2021). Maternal healthcare experiences of African American women: A critical race theory perspective. Health Communication, 37(9), 1135-1146.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2021.1888453

Hawkins, M.M., Schmitt, M.E., Adebayo, C.T., Weitzel, J., Olukotun, O., Christensen, A. M., Ruiz, A. M., Gilman, K., Quigley, K., Dressel, A., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2021). Promoting the health of refugee women: A scoping literature review incorporating the social-ecological model. International Journal of Equity Health, 20( 45), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01387-5

Adebayo, C. T. (2021). Physician-patient interactions in Nigerian hospitals: A critical cultural role of power. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 50(1), 21–40.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2020.1799845

Adebayo, C. T., Walker, K., Hawkins, M., Olukotun, O., Shaw, L., Sahlstein Parcell, E… & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2020). Race and Blackness: A thematic review of communication challenges confronting the Black community within the United States healthcare system. Journal of Transcultural. Nursing, 31(4), 397–405. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1043659619889111


Work for CID:

Comfort Tosin Adebayo has served as a reviewer for Yoruba translations.

Ifeoma Marylinda Onyebuchi Profile

Profiles

Ifeoma Marylinda Onyebuchi holds a BA in Media and Communication Studies from Afe Babalola University, and is pursuing an MA in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC.

Ifeoma OnyebuchiHer research interests include intercultural communication, media representation, and the role of communication in community development, with a particular focus on addressing the unique needs of marginalized populations. Ifeoma is passionate about exploring how cultural contexts influence communication practices and how intercultural dialogue can be used to promote inclusivity and social cohesion. She is also interested in the integration of media literacy and health education within intercultural settings, aiming to enhance public health communication strategies and support diverse communities.

Ifeoma’s journey in intercultural communication is enriched by extensive experience in caregiving and community service, where she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to empathy and cultural sensitivity. Her hands-on work in caregiving has shaped her approach to fostering understanding across diverse backgrounds, equipping her to engage meaningfully with individuals from all walks of life. She is skilled in culturally responsive communication, ensuring that her messaging is accessible and impactful for various audiences.

In addition to her expertise in communication, Ifeoma is adept at health and wellness education, tailoring information to meet specific cultural needs. Her experience extends to planning and implementing community outreach initiatives that address social and healthcare needs within diverse communities. Known for her adaptability and quick learning, Ifeoma excels in fast-paced environments, continually embracing new tools and strategies to support intercultural understanding. She is dedicated to contributing positively to platforms that champion inclusivity, bringing her commitment to empathy, cultural awareness, and meaningful dialogue to every project she undertakes.


Work for CID:

Ifeoma Onyebuchi was an intern at the Center across fall 2024-spring 2025, and one of the co-authors of ICD Exercise 4: Implicit Bias Awareness and ICD Exercise 5: Challenging Cultural Stereotypes through Intercultural Dialogue, ICD Exercise 6: Exploring Cultural Symbols in Intercultural Dialogue, and ICD Exercise 7: Anti-Bias Advocacy.

Favour Ilolo Profile

Profiles

Favour Ogechi Ilolo is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication program at Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.

Favour IloloShe holds a BA in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria, and her areas of specialization include Media and Communication, Intercultural Dialogue, and Community Engagement. Her research interests span Intercultural Communication, Social Media for Social Change, Community Outreach, Cultural Representation in Media, and Advocacy for Inclusive Dialogue.

She has been actively engaged in a variety of community-based projects, working closely with organizations that support families, foster intercultural understanding, and tackle societal biases. She has developed educational content for diverse audiences and is particularly passionate about designing media-driven programs that promote intercultural empathy and mitigate stereotypes. Her expertise encompasses video and news editing, voiceover work, and content creation, where she seeks to craft compelling narratives that unite audiences across cultural divides.

Favour currently serves as a caregiver, utilizing her communication skills to establish trust and cultivate meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with special needs. Moreover, she actively participates in volunteer work that supports community outreach programs centered on intercultural communication and education.

Favour has actively participated in a range of academic and community initiatives, including workshops that underscore the significance of effective communication in diverse contexts. As she advances in her career, Favour is dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding through innovative communication strategies, with the aspiration of promoting empathy, respect, and inclusivity within communities.


Work for CID:

Favour Ilolo was an intern at the Center across fall 2024-spring 2025, and one of the co-authors of ICD Exercise 4: Implicit Bias Awareness and ICD Exercise 5: Challenging Cultural Stereotypes through Intercultural Dialogue, ICD Exercise 6: Exploring Cultural Symbols in Intercultural Dialogue, and ICD Exercise 7: Anti-Bias Advocacy.

Stellina Ibrahim Profile

Profiles

Stellina Ibrahim holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing an MA in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.

Stellina IbrahimAs of October 2024, Stellina has joined the Center for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) as an intern, collaborating with her team, “3 Connect-1 Voice,” to develop initiatives centered on intercultural dialogue. In her role at CID, Stellina focuses on creating Intercultural Dialogue Exercises to address stereotypes and bias, managing a new Instagram account for the Center, and translating some of the Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue into Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s primary languages. Her passion for intercultural communication stems from her extensive experience as an Information Manager for a Nigerian government organization, where she cultivated a deep interest in diversity and cultural exchange.

Stellina’s current studies in Canada have enriched her understanding of global cultures, allowing her to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experience the convergence of cultures firsthand. She is dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue and bridging cultural divides.


Work for CID:

Stellina Ibrahim was an intern at the Center across fall 2024-spring 2025, and one of the co-authors of ICD Exercise 4: Implicit Bias Awareness, ICD Exercise 5: Challenging Cultural Stereotypes through Intercultural Dialogue, ICD Exercise 6: Exploring Cultural Symbols in Intercultural Dialogue, and ICD Exercise 7: Anti-Bias Advocacy.

Alex Szebenyi Profile

Profiles

Alex Szebenyi is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Acquaint, a platform dedicated to fostering global community and empathy through the practice of human connection.

Alex Szebenyi At Acquaint, Alex oversees the technology powering acquaint.org, where volunteers from over 100 countries train human connection skills and engage in 1-on-1 intercultural dialogue sessions. To date, Acquaint has facilitated over 15,000 hours of dialogue, supported by AI-powered communication training courses and a suite of additional tools designed to make the practice of human connection more accessible and rewarding.

Alex’s career began in neuroscience, researching chemosensory systems, before he transitioned to software engineering in fields such as AI and fintech. After holding positions at various startups, Alex most recently worked as a Principal Software Engineer at AssuranceIQ. In January 2024, he fully dedicated himself to Acquaint as CTO, having previously supported the organization part-time for several years.

Alex also leads Acquaint’s research framework, which aims to advance our understanding of human connection. Acquaint collaborates with multiple labs to conduct controlled experiments, studying areas such as empathy growth, intercultural listening skills, and the gap between expectations and reality in cross-cultural interactions. These insights feed back into the platform’s development, continuously improving the training tools and dialogue experience.

Alex is excited to connect with researchers and institutions studying human connection and intercultural dialogue. You can reach Alex by email or connect with him on LinkedIn.


Work for CID:

Alex Szebenyi is co-leader of an expert group for the Center.

Mimi Yang Profile

Profiles

Mimi Yang, Ph.D., is a Professor Emerita at Carthage College, WI, USA. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Chinese, her professional and personal life speaks of interculturalism in ongoing dialogues.

Mimi YangShe authored the book Cultural Paradigms Across Chinese, English, and Spanish-Speaking Worlds (Edwin Mellon, 2014), and edited the book Multilingualism in Its Multiple Dimensions (forthcoming in 2024 at IntechOpen). Dr. Yang is a recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, as well as regional and national teaching awards.

Dr. Yang is deeply involved in intercultural and history studies. As a prolific writer, her articles (in English and Spanish) cover a range of cultural themes: Americanism, women’s suffrage, Latin American postmodernism, Mexican painting, and the Chinese-American experience, etc. Her works have gained traction in multiple academic disciplines and on multiple continents. Dr. Yang is also a regular contributor to the commentary column in the Kenosha News and the Racine Journal Times, dealing with pressing and controversial historical, cultural, and sociopolitical issues.

Dr. Yang believes we are more similar than different across cultures and regions; she seeks the connection between cultures, peoples, traditions, and ideas through differences.

Those who wish to reach her are invited to contact her via email.


Work for CID:

Mimi Yang is the author of a guest post, The Evolving Field of Multilingual Studies, and is  participating in an expert group for the Center.

Tina Coffelt Profile

Profiles

Tina Coffelt is a professor in the Department of English at Iowa State University. She holds a BBA in management from Florida International University, an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University, and a PhD in communication from the University of Missouri. .

Tina CoffeltHer research focuses on interpersonal communication and business communication and she uses qualitative and quantitative research methods. Her deep passion for international education evolved when she was asked to teach intercultural communication. That experience led to faculty exchanges, teaching study abroad, a Fulbright Scholar award to Uzbekistan, and grant work in Uzbekistan. She continuously seeks opportunities to blend her interests with international education and research initiatives. She received an internal International Service Award in 2023.

Selected publications and grants:

Coffelt, T. A. (2024). Crossroads on the Silk Road: Accounts of a faculty member’s culture shock and adaptation in Uzbekistan. Review of Communication, 24(2), 114-130.

Coffelt, T. A., & Koziel, J. (Accepted July 2020). Enhancing the reputation of research in Uzbekistan through professional development. UniCEN, American Councils. $40,000.


Work for CID:

Tina Coffelt is co-leader of an expert group for the Center.

Eddah Mutua Profile

Profiles

Eddah M. Mutua (Ph.D., University of Wales, Aberystwyth) is Professor of Intercultural Communication at St. Cloud State University, Minnesota.

Eddah MutuaHer research focuses on African communication research and education, the role of women in grassroots peacebuilding initiatives in post-conflict societies in Eastern Africa, relations between East African refugee and host communities in Central Minnesota, and critical service-learning as a pedagogical practice in peace education. Her work has received national and international recognition. She coordinates a nationally and internationally recognized award-winning service-learning project in Central Minnesota, has won NCA IICD top faculty paper, and co-edited award winning books Rhetorical Legacy of Wangari Mathaai: Planting the Future and Internationalization of the Communication Curriculum in an Age of Globalization. Her forthcoming edited book is titled Indigenous African Communication and Media Systems in Digitalized Age (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024). Her publications appear in Language and Intercultural Communication, Review of Communication, The Journal of Social Encounters, Qualitative Inquiry, Africa Media Review, African Yearbook of Rhetoric, Women & Language, Text and Performance Quarterly, Qualitative Inquiry and several edited intercultural books. She has served as a guest editor of Africa Media Review and The Journal of Social Encounters special issues on peace communication in Africa. Currently, she serves as a member of the editorial boards of Howard Journal of Communication, Communication Monograph and Journal of Social Encounters and previously as editorial member of Review of Communication.

Recent publications:

Mutua, E.M., & Chirindo, K. (2024). Sawubona Philosophy of African Communication (SPAC). In K. Langmia (ed.), Black communication theory (vol 2, pp. 189-209). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Chirindo, K., & Mutua, E. (2024). Toward an African critical orientation. Communication Studies, 75(4), 390-406.

Mutua, E.M., & Kang, D. (2024). Constructing transcultural identities from global racial-justice events: A dialogue of Zulu, Kiswahili, and Chinese conceptions. Language and Intercultural Communication, 1-16. DOI: 10.1080/14708477.2024.2307598

Mutua, E. M, Musa, B. A., & Okigbo, C. (2022). (Re)visiting African communication scholarship: Critical perspectives on research and theory. Review of Communication, 22(1), 76-92. DOI: 10.1080/15358593.2021.2025413.

Mutua, E. M. (2021). Sawubona – We see, value, and respect you: A critical pedagogical invitation to communicate. In D. S. Strasser (Ed.), Communication and identity in the classroom: Intersectional perspectives of critical pedagogy (pp. 125-139). Lanham, MD: Lexington.

Mutua, E. M. (2020). Memorializing the work of Bishop Cornelius Korir in advancing grassroots peacebuilding in Kenya: Perspectives on Amani Mashinani. Journal of Social Encounters, 4(1), 1-8.

Mutua, E. M. (2020). Service for peace: Working with students and youth to plant the future. In E. Sample & D. Irvin-Erickson (Eds.), Building Peace in America (pp. 105-118). Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield.

Mutua, E. M. (2019). Connecting local and global communication contexts in the classroom: Intercultural engagements with university and K–12 students. In P. Turner, S. Bardan, T. Holden & E. M. Mutua (eds.), Internationalizing the communication curriculum in the age of globalization (pp. 223-234). New York, NY: Routledge.


Work for CID:

Edda Mutua was one of the participants at the Istanbul conference leading up to the creation of the Center for Intercultural Dialogue; in addition, she is participating in an expert group for the Center.

Elise Cuny Profile

Profiles

Elise Cuny is chair of the French association culture Solutions working towards the recognition of the role of culture in EU’s external relations and the understanding and promotion of international cultural relations at large. In this position, she coordinates projects and supervises the strategic development of content production, partnerships and network.

Elise CunyElise has a background in European affairs and extensive experience in the field of international relations and diplomacy from the capacity building and research perspectives, as well as on the topic of democracy and citizen participation. She has developed projects strengthening administrative cooperation and diplomatic skills in bilateral and regional programmes. She has also designed and monitored national training programmes for experts deployed in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions.

She specialises in Africa-Europe partnerships with a focus on youth support and international exchanges in the development of cultural and creative industries. She spent three years in Rwanda as part of an international investigation team on the 1994 Genocide of the Tutsi, and developed knowledge and expertise on the field of memory policies. She is an alumna from the College of Europe (MA, International Relations and Diplomacy Studies of the EU) and Sciences Po Lille (MA European Affairs). She also supports projects raising awareness on cultural heritage among youth in schools. She runs the podcast series (Re)generating trust from culture Solutions focusing on the links between youth and culture.


Work for CID:

Elise Cuny is participating in an expert group for the Center.