LaKisha David
Dr. LaKisha T. David is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She holds academic affiliations with the Center for African Studies, the Center for Indigenous Studies Research Theme, and the Genomic Security and Privacy Research Theme at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at UIUC.
Dr. David's research interests focus on family identity development among family groups separated during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, genetic genealogy inference among Africans and people with African ancestry, and identity development throughout adulthood for people with African ancestry. Her work combines cutting-edge genetic analysis with social science research methods to uncover ancestral connections and facilitate family reunifications between Africans and their historic diaspora.
Prior to joining UIUC, Dr. David completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genetics and Genomics at the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was advised by Dr. Shardé Smith and Dr. Christy Lleras. Dr. David also holds a Master of City Planning (M.C.P.) in Urban Planning and Studies with a concentration in International Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Construction Management from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
Dr. David's recent publications include articles in the American Anthropologist and the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, where she discusses the use of genetic genealogy in restoring family narratives following the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the feasibility of people of African descent finding living African relatives using direct-to-consumer genetic testing. She has also contributed to publications in The Journal of Urology and DNA Technology: A Reference Handbook.
As the Principal Investigator of the African Kinship Reunion (TAKiR) project, Dr. David leads a multidisciplinary team, leveraging partnerships with campus facilities such as Illinois Computes experts from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and the state government through initiatives like Illinois HR 453, community organizations…. These collaborations enable her team to employ advanced genetic analysis and social science research methods to bridge historical gaps, reconnect families, and shed light on the enduring impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Her expertise in genetic genealogy inference, identity development, and the African diaspora experience positions her as a leading researcher in this groundbreaking field of study.