Dr. Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyatta ("Dr. Matt") is an award-winning scholar, artist and advocate who currently serves as the Director and Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programming at Temple Contemporary gallery. His research and practice explores worldbuilding: how spaces of Black commerce and cultural heritage foster environments of joy, justice and innovation within urban communities. A first-generation college graduate, he holds a Ph.D. from USC, a Master's from MIT, and a Bachelor's from Stanford University. Previously, he held faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design and served as the inaugural Director of Justice and Belonging Initiatives.

Dr. Kenyatta is the author of the forthcoming book Black Urbanism: Palms Growing in Concrete (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025) and creator of the acclaimed @BlackUrbanism digital preservation project. His civic leadership includes serving as the youngest member of the Philadelphia Art Commission and as the 21st Century Historic Preservation Leaders Fellow with the U.S. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), where he developed the Museum of Hidden Genius, an artistic research project dedicated to preserving the heritage of African American invention and 'Afrotech.' His work has been featured in The New York Times, Philadelphia Tribune, and Bloomberg CityLab. Dr. Kenyatta co-stars in the documentary Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn, which has been featured at international film festivals. His interdisciplinary work continues to bridge academia, art, and advocacy to reimagine more equitable and culturally vibrant urban futures. He resides in North Philadelphia where he remains actively engaged in community-based initiatives.