Read the Issue of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
Dr. Jesse Ford, an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education at UNC Greensboro, has been named an Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The January 9, 2025, edition of the publication profiles 15 scholars throughout the country who are making their mark through teaching, research, and service. These outstanding scholars represent the future of academia and serve as inspirations to students and faculty members.
Much of Ford’s work focuses on increasing academic success for Black men from pre-K through Ph.D. Ford launched the Center for Black Men Success which serves as a research and programmatic initiative, dedicated to advancing the retention of Black men pursuing academic and professional success within institutions of higher education. Rooted in a commitment to identify and address systemic inequalities, its primary mission is to foster academic success, holistic well-being, and community engagement among Black men on college campuses.
In the fall, Ford launched a new undergraduate course aimed at helping UNCG’s Black men succeed at college and beyond. The Black Men Leadership course was designed to facilitate conversations around leadership development and leadership efficacy.
Each scholar is selected based on research, educational background, publishing record, teaching record, competitiveness in field of study, and uniqueness of field of study. Each leader selected has demonstrated perseverance and tenacity, and each has made a broad impact on the academy.
The 2025 Emerging Scholars of the Year are (in alphabetical order):
Dr. Majid Bagheri, assistant professor of engineering, Savannah State University
Dr. Kaleb Briscoe, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies, University of Oklahoma
Dr. Zachary K. Collier, assistant professor in the research methods, measurement and evaluation program, University of Connecticut
Dr. Ashley E. Cureton, assistant professor, social work, University of Michigan
Dr. Jesse Ford, Jesse Ford, assistant professor of teacher education and higher education, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Dr. Jonathan Daniel Gomez, associate professor, Chicana and Chicano Studies, San Jose State University
Dr. Kevin Lawerence Henry, Jr., associate professor of educational leadership and policy analysis, University of Wisconsin- Madison
Dr. Kate (Kyung) Hyun, assistant professor of civil engineering, University of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Sabina Khan, assistant professor for health sciences, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Thomas Kneeland, assistant professor of English, Anderson University
Dr. Roman Liera, assistant professor of higher education, Montclair State University
Dr. Christina Love, associate teaching professor, physics, Drexel University
Dr. Karina G. Salazar, assistant professor, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona
Dr. Angelica Witcher Walker, assistant professor and assistant dean for student vitality, Virginia Tech Carillon School of Medicine
Dr. Brittany Williams, assistant professor of higher education and student affairs administration, University of Vermont
