Editor’s Bio

Gwendolyn Scotton Bethea, Ph.D. is the founder of Scotton Communications Network, an organization that specializes in editing, writing, and public relations (scottoncommunicationsnetwork.org). She is also the founder of the HBCU Speakers Bureau and Research Magazine (hbcuspbresearch.org). An editor/writer and communications specialist, she previously served as editor of the Howard University Graduate School Research Magazine and the manager of the Speakers Bureau of Howard University. She is the former director of the Howard University Graduate School’s Communications and Expository Writing Programs and the former director of the Preparing Future Faculty Program (PFF) for the Howard University Graduate School. During her tenure as director of the Communications and Expository Writing Programs, she oversaw the entry writing examinations for all enrolled graduate students, recruitment publications, and website development and maintenance. As director of the PFF program, she planned and directed seminars, workshops, and pre-faculty internships for doctoral students planning to enter the professoriate at partner institutions ranging from community colleges to research-intensive universities. 

She has directed marketing campaigns for National YWCA Outreach Programs; Howard University’s National Affirmative Action Symposium; Slavery: A Comparative Interdisciplinary Exploration; Bio terrorism in America; and Global Access to Higher Education for People of Color, among other events. Dr. Bethea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Howard University, a Master of Arts in Print Communications from American University, and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Howard University.

Assistant Editor

Frankie L. Bethea B.F.A. 

Frankie L. Bethea is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Assistant Editor for the HBCU Speakers Bureau Research Magazine. With a strong commitment to community engagement, she has coordinated community conversations for the African American Music Association (AAMA) and has served on its Board of Directors. In this role, she organized the AAMA Annual Health Fair, focusing on promoting health awareness and resources within the Fort Chaplin community. Additionally, while working with the AAMA, she collaborated with Youth and Families in Crisis, which facilitates the MAAT Training Institute for Restorative Justice and Professional Development Consultants.

With a rich background in creative production, she has contributed to notable media outlets, including ABC Channel 7 News, RT America, Aljazeera America and Al Jazeera English, where she developed skills in storytelling and media production. Her work with clients such as NPR, Comcast, Telemundo, Univision, NEWSEUM and TV One further emphasizes her expertise in delivering high-quality content and artistry that resonate with diverse audiences.

In academia, she currently serves as a Lecturer and Faculty Advisor for the Annual Owen Dodson Recognition Ceremony in the Department of Theatre Arts at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. Additionally, she has made significant contributions as an instructor at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where she created the Makeup For The Stage Workshop to nurture young talent in the performing arts.

A proud graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), she remains actively involved in various organizations, including the Howard University Alumni Association, the American Business Women’s Association DC chapter, and the NAACP DC chapter. She has also created the “I Love You Me, Blush Initiative Women’s campaign to support women who have experienced homelessness and domestic abuse, collaborating with the Rachael’s Women’s Center and serving on the Board of Directors and the Annual Fundraising Committee for events held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

As the founder of an Artist Collective in 2016, she is passionately dedicated to promoting artistic collaboration and community engagement. A native of Washington, DC, she is fearlessly committed to empowering individuals and enhancing community well-being through the arts and education, driving efforts to create impactful narratives and foster meaningful connections within the community.