She is a writer, illustrator, and graphic design educator at Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville, TN.

Kaleena Sales’ research focuses on Black culture and aesthetics, and her recent illustration work has been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Communication Arts Illustration Annual.

Kaleena is co-author of the book, Extra-Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Non-Binary Field Guild for Graphic Designers, alongside Ellen Lupton and a diverse group of other designers. She actively presents at national and international design conferences, including AIGA, CAA, SECAC, and RGD.

Through her service on AIGA’s Design Educators Community Steering Committee, Kaleena has advocated for a more inclusive view of design history through her Beyond the Bauhaus writing series. She also serves as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for AIGA Nashville.

BCU (Birmingham City University) Type Talks seeks to enhance student learning within the discipline of visual communication. The talks are in a more informal setting of the late afternoon/evening and are open to the public who may work within the design industry or have an interest within this field; this is so our students can benefit from networking with.