Phill Branch

Phill Branch is an Assistant Professor of Practice at Goucher College, where he teaches in the Communication and Media Studies department, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media. He has a notable background as a storyteller, filmmaker, and educator.

Education and Career

Branch is an alumnus of the American Film Institute and has previously held teaching positions at Hampton University and Howard University. His academic work emphasizes the intersection of race, gender, and media, and he has developed unique courses, including one centered on Janet Jackson's impact on Black popular music, which is reportedly the only known college course on her in the country.12

Achievements

Phill is recognized for his storytelling skills, having won the Moth GrandSlam Championship in 2018 and receiving the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award in 2019. He directed the documentary Searching for Shaniqua, which won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. His work often explores themes of identity, equity, and inclusion.123

Current Projects

In addition to his teaching, Branch produces and hosts a podcast titled Isolation Be Like, which reflects on identity and culture during the pandemic. He is also in the process of completing a creative nonfiction memoir and has been active as a speaker and workshop leader across various institutions, including Harvard University and the National Black Theater Festival.23