Dr. Cécile Accilien is a professor of French and Francophone studies at the University of Maryland, where she teaches courses on African and Caribbean literature and cultures, gender, and film and media. Originally from Haiti, she has lived in Burkina Faso, France, Belgium, and Senegal, and draws on her international experience to inspire students to explore and engage with diverse cultures. She earned her PhD in French and Francophone Studies from Tulane University and is a certified coach through the University of Georgia.  

Cécile’s research and publications focus on Haitian culture and representations of relationships in literature and media. She has authored multiple books as well as essays on global issues, and has been interviewed by NPR. She serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Women, Gender, and Families of Color, and was president of the Haitian Studies Association in 2023 and 2024. She is also a member of the board of Beyond Borders, a nonprofit working to improve lives in Haiti. In 2018, Cécile co-curated an exhibit featuring the work of Haitian-born artist Ulrick Jean-Pierre at the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, Kansas.