Najima Rainey

Najima Rainey is a Ph.D. candidate with a strong interdisciplinary background in creative writing, education, community organizing, and cultural advocacy. She earned her Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona in 2005, following a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Arizona University in 2002, which included a year of study abroad at the University of Swansea, Wales. During her graduate studies, she served as a Graduate Assistant Teaching Fellow at the University of Arizona, contributed as the Graduate Student Representative to the Poetry Center Advisory Board, and was awarded the Faculty Women’s Club Scholarship (2003–2004).

 

Her academic career includes international teaching experience, having worked as an ESL Instructor at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and as an ESL Teacher at Knowledge Tree Learning Center in Taipei, Taiwan. In these roles, she developed curriculum and worked with diverse student populations from preschool through university levels.

 

Beyond academia, Rainey is a published and reviewed independent musician, known for her performances in traditional country blues, jazz standards, and soul music, and for her original compositions blending Americana and blues influences. Her music has been featured in Soul Bag Magazine, Tucson Sentinel, and American Songwriter. She is also a dedicated community leader, having served as Outreach Coordinator for Black Lives Matter Tucson, where she organized large-scale events, fundraising campaigns, and social justice initiatives.

 

Rainey’s scholarly and creative interests intersect with activism, particularly in amplifying marginalized voices. She has presented and moderated at conferences, including the Women in Higher Education Conference, and participated in social justice art and advocacy events, such as the Facing Race Conference Installation Sex and Sovereignty. Her career reflects a commitment to education, cultural expression, and community empowerment on a global scale.