Felia Davenport

Felia K Davenport, Associate Professor, brings passion and creativity to every course she teaches at University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL). Her expertise as a costume designer enhances her ability to examine the fields of mass communication, media theory, and cinema thoughtfully and thoroughly.   

An MFA (Master of Fine Arts) graduate from University of Tennessee-Knoxville and BFA graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Davenport joined UMSL in 2008 as Assistant Professor of Costume Design and manager of the university costume shop. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014 and named chair of the Department of Theatre and Cinema Arts in 2015. In 2019, she joined the Department of Communication & Media where she expanded her academic teaching to include media theory and mass communication. 

In 2021, Davenport was named an artist in residence at the Kranzberg Arts Foundation where she developed her mixed media exhibition, Torn Mixology, earning her an artist grant by the Regional Arts Commission in 2022. The exhibit features 5 costume designs that explore key points in her life where her identity was created, challenged, and conquered. Following the tradition established during the Underground Railroad, each design encompassed a quilted map illustrating the evolving journey and struggle with identity as a multi-racial female.  

In 2018, Davenport served as the principal investigator on the documentary Through the Native Lens: Native Appropriation and was awarded a University of Missouri Research Board Grant. She received an additional grant in 2019 as co-principal investigator. This project included researching the refugee experience and interviewing various stakeholders. This culminated into a live and film puppet show entitled Refugee Integration: Stories to Educate, now available to middle and high schools, and adult learners. "We Came as Refugees: An American Story" (bundled licenses) available from UMSL Innovations 

In 2020, Davenport won a St. Louis Circle Award for Outstanding Costume in District Merchants.  

Additionally, Davenport has participated in numerous lectures and presentations including; Sound and Style at the Missouri History Museum in 2022, Black People in Horror Films at the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 2022 and served as a guest lecturer at Wheaton College in 2020.  

Today, her research explores social and personal identity through a cultural lens by using her expertise in textiles and weaving it with politics, history, psychology, sociology, media, and communication. She remains committed to her research's foundation in social justice and change. Professor Davenport’s work continuously challenges, changes, and inspires. 

Courses Taught 

Communication and Media Course: 
COMM 2200 Visual Communication 
COMM 1050 Introduction to Mass Communication 
MEDIAST 2235 Media Theory THEATR 1070 Introduction to Cinema 
THEATRE 2274 African American Cinema 
 
Theatre courses: 
THEATR 1800 Introduction to Theatre 
THEATR 1850 Introduction to Non-Western Theatre
THEATR 1910 Introduction to Theatre Design
THEATRE 2197 Practicum in Costume
THEATR 2252 Costume Design I
THEATR 2260 Introduction to Costume Production
THEATR 2800 History of Costumes
THEATR 3197 Advanced Practicum in Costume
THEATR 3250 Costume Crafts
THEATR 3252 Costume II
THEATR 3257 Makeup for Theatrical Productions
THEATRE 4390 Theatre Internship 
 
Art and Design courses: 
START 1133 Fibers and Textiles