Meet Assistant Professor of Dance Michele Byrd-McPhee

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The new names and faces in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts this fall aren’t just those belonging to our students. We are proud to welcome ten new faculty members across seven different departments of the college, as well as five new folks in the UMass Amherst Writing Program. 
Over the course of the semester, we’re introducing you to these faculty members and to the work they do.

Assistant Professor of Music and Dance Michele Byrd-McPhee has an honor to her credit that we dare say is unusual among UMass faculty members: a ground-breaking dancer and art activist, she has been immortalized in a mural entitled Know the Elements, located in North Philadelphia. This artwork was created in celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, and Byrd-McPhee's inclusion acknowledges her enduring contributions to Hip-Hop culture. 

Now at UMass, Byrd-McPhee hopes to make new connections to pursue her particular blend of creativity, research, and advocacy.

We asked her some questions about her work.

Question: What is your academic background? 
Byrd-McPhee: I hold a BS in Public Health from Temple University and an MS in Arts Administration from Drexel University. My academic path bridges social impact with arts leadership, shaping how I view both dance and cultural production as critical tools for education, community building, and advocacy.

Question: What is your teaching experience?
Byrd-Phee: I am currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Dance at UMass Amherst, where I teach courses such as Dance & Culture, Repertory, and NYPOP. Previously, I served as an Adjunct at NYU Steinhardt and was awarded the 2020 Integrated Arts Residency Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where I developed and taught Hip-Hop, Women, and the World. I have also taught workshops, intensives, and residencies nationally and internationally through my work with Ladies of Hip-Hop. My teaching interests include street and club dance forms, cultural studies, dance history, and entrepreneurship for artists.

Question: Have you worked in other professions that have shaped your approach to teaching and learning?
Byrd-Phee: Yes. Beyond teaching, I have extensive experience as an arts administrator and cultural organizer, most notably as the Founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop, now in its 22nd year. I also worked as a Production Manager at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and as Senior Production Coordinator at Late Night with Seth Meyers. Understanding the world of both arts and television from the production side has been a huge asset for me sharpening my skills in logistics, communication, and large-scale project management, all of which directly inform how I teach, mentor, and build sustainable artistic practices.  In addition, I have served as a grant panelist for the McKnight Foundation and Dance/NYC, and as a voting member of the Bessie Awards Committee, helping to shape the field through advocacy and critical evaluation.

Question: What are you passionate about when it comes to this work?
Byrd-Phee: I am passionate about creating equitable spaces for women and girls in Hip-Hop and uplifting underrepresented voices in dance. I am driven by the idea that teaching is not just about technique, but about helping students connect artistry to identity, history, and community.

Question: Have you published, exhibited, or conducted research? Please share a bit about it and feel free to include any relevant links.
My research and creative work is centered on Black Dancing Bodies, a multidisciplinary project blending dance, poetry, and storytelling. This work has been presented at the Guggenheim, Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, the New Victory Theater, and more, and is supported by NEFA’s National Dance Project, among others. I am also working on a new solo project, Body Politics, which examines identity, body autonomy, and perception for Black women in dance.  www.ladiesofhiphop.com/black-dancing-bodies

In 2023, I received the Bessie Award for Outstanding Service to the Field. I also received a Citation of Recognition from the City of Philadelphia for my work in the arts.

Question: What are you most looking forward to at UMass?
Byrd-McPhee: I am excited about continuing to build connections between scholarship, practice, and community through my courses and creative projects. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and students while contributing to the university’s growing focus on diversity, equity, and arts innovation.

Question: How do you hope to engage with the HFA community?
Byrd-McPhee: I hope to engage by developing interdisciplinary connections linking theater, music, dance with cultural studies, Black feminist thought, and arts entrepreneurship. I am eager to connect with other faculty to build work.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Byrd-McPhee: I am honored to be part of the UMass community at such a pivotal time in both my personal and professional journey. As a cultural worker, educator, and artist, my goal is to foster spaces that honor the histories of Black and Hip-Hop culture while equipping students to innovate and lead in the future.