About

Scholar. Practitioner. Educator.
Dr. Teyuna T. Darris is a Communication Scholar and Media Practitioner with over a decade of experience in strategic communications, organizational development, and instructional design. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Communications Management from Webster University.

Her work operates at the intersection of Academic Theory and Professional Practice:

The Scholar
Dr. Darris’s doctoral research, “African American Parents’ Perceptions of How Their Digital Practices Affect the Parent-Child Relationship,” examined the complex impact of digital media on family dynamics and communication patterns. She is currently adapting this research into a monograph for scholarly publication, continuing her investigation into how technology shapes interpersonal connection.

The Practitioner
As the Principal Consultant of The Darris Company, LLC, Dr. Darris translates communication theory into actionable strategy for nonprofits, small businesses, and civic organizations. Her practice focuses on strategic communications, grant and proposal development, and digital media management. She helps organizations refine their narratives to secure funding and build community trust, leveraging her background in public relations and media production.

The Educator
A holder of the Missouri Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CPC), Dr. Darris possesses deep expertise in literacy intervention and curriculum design. She has served as a certified classroom teacher and standards-based curriculum writer for major urban school districts and has facilitated professional writing and communications courses for adult learners. Her educational consulting focuses on developing rigorous, accessible frameworks that bridge the gap between policy and classroom practice.

The Curator
Dr. Darris is the founder of Stanza & Story (formerly GoodPoetry), a literary platform and publishing house dedicated to preserving the “oral tradition” through curated poetry and prose. She also leads Cadence & Verge, a cultural journalism initiative documenting regional identity. Her work captures the stories of St. Louis cultural staples—including the “Cornbread Chronicles”—as well as the narratives of grassroots entrepreneurs across the Midwest and DMV regions.

Civic Leadership
Beyond the academy, Dr. Darris is committed to equitable community leadership. She is a graduate of the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows Program and has served as an appointed Trustee for the Ferguson Municipal Public Library Board, helping to guide one of the region’s most vital community institutions.