Joanna Da Sylva is a doctoral student in the Department of African and African American Studies with a primary field in History. She has an MA in International Affairs from The New School (New York) and an MA in Educational Studies from The University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). Her research interests lie at the intersections of postcolonial African histories, African liberation movements, Pan-Africanism, and gender. Her current research examines the role of women in the Burkinabè Revolution of 1983-1987 alongside Thomas Sankara's life and legacies.

Joanna’s work is committed to restoring and reclaiming subjugated African histories using African voices and knowledges, which can provide insights into how to address current global socio-political, economic, and environmental issues.