Ph.D. in Urban Education Studies
Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
I work at IUPUI full-time and it was convenient (and cost efficient) to attend.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
My biggest academic accomplishment has been the acceptance of my book chapter, “A Critical Race Counter-narrative of an Adolescent African-American Father: Influences of Educational Motivation and Ways of Knowing” for the book, “I Am What I Become – Constructing an Identity as a Lifelong Learner”. The book is currently undergoing revisions and is set to be released late 2018 to early 2019.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
Although I lived in other areas of the Midwest after graduating from college and graduate school, I was born and raised in Indianapolis. I have a very strong allegiance to the people and it is a very clean city. The reasonable cost of living allows one to live either in the city or the suburbs comfortably. You can’t beat that!
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
My current research interests includes the identity development and ways of knowing of African-American adult black males. I also have a strong interest in community work, particularly in how men of color approach the engagement of their communities. In addition to serving as the Director of Workforce Readiness and Program Development in IUPUI’s Office of Community Engagement, I am also the University’s primary representative for community building for the Near Westside neighborhood of Indianapolis. This responsibility includes supporting the work of the four neighborhoods that make up the Near West side (Haughville, Hawthorne, Stringtown and We Care), advocating for their rights and helping them to build capacity as they seek to build on the strengths of their neighborhood. It is the hardest, but most rewarding work I have ever done.