Team

AADHum's work is organized and executed by a core team of faculty, staff, and students, both at the graduate and undergraduate level. We are part of University of Maryland's College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU), and are also part of the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH)!

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Ruka Ayele

Ruka Ayele

Graduate Assistant

Ruka Ayele is a first-year graduate student in the International Relations program at the University of Maryland. She serves as the External Relations Coordinator for the African American Digital & Experimental Humanities Lab (AADHum) and is a Graduate Assistant at the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH).

Her scholarly interests lie at the intersection of African diasporic studies, African archaeology, quantum theory, and conflict resolution. Ruka integrates research and creative practice through short films and multimedia productions, including Quantum Oromo. Her work aims to foster interdisciplinary and diasporic modes of inquiry.

She holds two degrees from the University of Maryland: a Bachelor of Arts in African American & Africana Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Information Science. Ruka is also the founder of Rural Highlights, a community-based initiative focused on increasing access to educational and creative resources for students in rural Ethiopian communities. The project was selected as a semifinalist in the University of Maryland School of Public Policy’s Do Good Challenge in 2024.