Forum Contributors

Kofi Bazzell-Smith is an artist, educator, and professional boxer specializing in Japanese manga. As the first professor of manga practice in the United States, he teaches manga drawing and storytelling at Rochester Institute of Technology and leads a study abroad program in Japan. His work bridges art and academia, focusing on global manga production, visual communication, and cross-cultural exchange. He has lectured and exhibited internationally, with engagements at institutions such as Princeton University, Ritsumeikan University, and the International House of Japan, with support from organizations including NHK Global and the Mellon Foundation. Through his art practice and scholarship, he explores new ways to expand manga’s possibilities as a global medium.