Krystion M. Pegues is a native Memphian who took her interests in film and television to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Cinema Studies and further discipline in Women, Gender, and Sexuality in 2022. As a first-generation college student, Krystion spent her time mentoring and advocating for other first-gen students through the university's Division of Student Success Center from 2018-2022. Using what she learned as a mentor, Krystion became president of the Women's Coordinating Council, an intersectional feminist organization. Her passion for advocating for those who struggle with injustices like gender-based violence, homophobia, racism, reproductive rights and more allowed her to hone in her passions in film and advocacy on and off campus.  

 

Ms. Pegues is now pursuing her Master of Arts in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality at the University of Memphis. She wants to further study the intersection between race, gender, and sexuality in media. Krystion wants to know how the media affects the perception of marginalized groups, more specifically, how the media plays a role in the treatment of Black people. With the rise of wanting to know more about Black history and its further connection to media, Ms. Pegues is working with Dr. Andre E. Johnson and multiple other scholars as a satellite researcher through Penn State University to study the Colored Conventions that took place in the South during the 19th century.