PROFESSOR • SCHOLAR • FILMMAKER • POET • COMMUNITY LEADER
Scholarship. Storytelling. Legacy.
Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi, Ph.D. is a professor, scholar, filmmaker, poet, researcher, and community leader whose work spans international communication, media, journalism, education, creative production, literature, culture, and public engagement.
The Scholar
A Career Built Around Knowledge, Communication & Creativity
For nearly four decades, Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi has dedicated his career to education, communication, research, creative expression, and community engagement.
As a professor and academic leader at Texas Southern University, his work has explored the ways communication and media influence society, culture, politics, identity, and development, with particular attention to Nigeria, Africa, and the African diaspora.
His professional journey extends far beyond the classroom. He has worked as a filmmaker, producer, director, screenwriter, poet, researcher, media commentator, conference leader, cultural organizer, and mentor. He is also a co-founder and Executive Editor of The West African Pilot News, reflecting his longstanding engagement with journalism, communication, and public discourse.
Across these different fields, one purpose remains constant: using knowledge, communication, and storytelling to understand society, preserve culture, encourage dialogue, and inspire the next generation.
More Than One Calling
Professor Ulasi’s work cannot be defined by a single title. His career brings together scholarship, education, storytelling, literature, media, and service.
The Scholar
Researcher and professor whose scholarship examines communication, media, society, technology, politics, culture, and development.
The Filmmaker
Producer, director, screenwriter, and creative storyteller whose film work explores African and diaspora experiences.
The Poet
Author and literary voice whose poetry and essays engage questions of culture, identity, history, society, and human experience.
Community Leader
A longtime participant in cultural, professional, educational, and community initiatives connecting scholarship with service.
A Career Built on Knowledge
Professor Ulasi's academic journey reflects a lifelong commitment to communication, education, research, leadership, and the development of knowledge.
From his early studies in telecommunications to doctoral research in international communications and decades of teaching, research, and academic leadership, Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi has built a career at the intersection of communication, media, technology, culture, and society.
His academic journey has taken him from the classroom to university leadership, from research in Nigeria to international scholarship, and from mentoring students to shaping conversations about the future of media and communication.
1981
B.S. Telecommunications Texas Southern University
1982
M.A. Mass Communication Texas Southern University Houston, Texas
1989
Ph.D. International Communications The University of Texas at Austin
RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP
Ideas That Connect Media, Technology, Culture & Society
Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi’s scholarship examines the relationship between communication, media, technology, culture, politics, and society. His research has consistently explored how media shape public understanding, identity, development, participation, and social change.
From his early research on Nigerian broadcasting and national development to his current work examining artificial intelligence, digital inequality, journalism, and communication, his scholarship bridges historical perspectives with emerging challenges.
Current Areas Of Inquiry
Media, AI & the Future of Communication
Professor Ulasi’s recent scholarship engages some of the most pressing questions facing communication today — including artificial intelligence, journalism ethics, digital inequality, public communication, media representation, and the changing relationship between technology and society.
2026 - Performing for the Algorithm
- 44th Annual Media and Communication Conference — CommWeek 2026
2026 The Trust Deficit
- 11th International Conference on Media and Mass Communication — MEDCOM 2026
Research Themes
01
- Artificial Intelligence & Journalism
04
- Nigeria & African Media
02
- Media & Communication
05
- Diaspora, Identity & Culture
03
- Digital Divide & Technology
06
- Film, Storytelling & Society
A Scholarship Spanning Decades
From Nigerian broadcasting and national development to social media, diaspora communities, film, political communication, and artificial intelligence, Professor Ulasi’s work reflects a sustained interest in how communication influences people, institutions, and society.
Selected Publications
Ethical Journalism and AI
2026 — De Gruyter Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism
Facebook Use Among Nigerians in Houston, Texas
Seeking Legitimacy and Political Control in Nigeria
1994 — CONPO Review
Writing & Commentary
Ideas, Perspectives & Public Conversation
Explore Professor Ulasi’s articles, Op-Eds, commentary, and editorial contributions across external publications.
Stories Told Through Film
Professor Chris Ulasi is a filmmaker, producer, director, screenwriter and creative storyteller whose work explores African narratives, identity, culture, history and the experiences of communities both in Africa and in the diaspora.
His Films reflect a commitment to authentic storytelling, humanity, and the power of cinema to inform, inspire and connect.
20+ Years
Creative Work
10+ Films & Projects
Produced & Directed
Award Winning
Storytelling
“Cinema is more than entertainment. It is memory, reflection, and a mirror held up to society” – Prof. Chris Ulasi
Featured Film: Page 36
Featured Film: Page 36
Producer & Co-Director
Page 36 is a powerful dramatic film that explores human experience through compelling storytelling, character, and emotional tension. As Producer and Co-Director, Professor Chris Ulasi contributed to the film’s creative direction and production, helping shape its story from concept to screen.
The film reflects his broader creative practice in visual storytelling—bringing together performance, narrative, direction, and production to create work that engages audiences both emotionally and intellectually.
Page 36 received the Best Original Screenplay Award at the Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards, recognizing the strength and originality of its storytelling.
Through projects such as Page 36, Professor Ulasi demonstrates his continuing commitment to African cinema and to the use of film as a medium for exploring people, culture, identity, and society.
Role: Producer & Co-Director
Recognition: Best Original Screenplay — Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards
Selected Filmography
Producer & Co-Director
2011
Producer & Co-Director
2009
Writer & Producer
2001
Producer
1996
Beyond The Screen
From Storyteller to Filmmaker
For Professor Ulasi, filmmaking is more than production. It is a form of communication — a way to examine culture, identity, history, migration, and the experiences of African communities.
His creative practice brings together his academic understanding of communication with the visual language of film and storytelling.
LEGACY & IMPACT
A Life of Knowledge, Creativity & Service
Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi’s work extends beyond the classroom, the research paper, and the film set. For decades, he has contributed to education, culture, media, community development, and the lives of students and emerging professionals.
Through teaching, mentorship, cultural leadership, public engagement, and creative expression, he continues to use communication and storytelling as tools for connection, understanding, and positive social impact.
Mentor
Shaping the Next Generation
Through decades of teaching and thesis supervision, Professor Ulasi has guided students pursuing careers in communication, media, film, and related fields.
Community
Serving Beyond the University
His leadership and service have extended into Nigerian and African diaspora communities, cultural organizations, educational initiatives, and civic engagement.
Culture
Preserving Stories & Identity
Through film, poetry, cultural festivals, scholarship, and public dialogue, he continues to explore and preserve stories that connect Africa, its diaspora, and the wider world.
Explore the Work. Discover the Story.
Explore Professor Chris Chinwe Ulasi’s scholarship, creative work, writing, community service, and professional journey.