I am interested in the role of socialization and self-efficacy in academic performance. Specifically, I am examining the role and impact of African-centered rites of passage on the academic performance of African American students. I am committed to a mix methodology approach (the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods) to research.
My interest evolved while pursuing my Masters degree. In 1996, I completed a thesis, “African-Centered Rites of Passage, Sense of Self, and Education: Connecting Theory to Practice”, which explored and established connections between the various title concepts. In 2003, I completed my dissertation titled, “The Academic STARS Retention Model: An empirical investigation of its effectiveness”. It was a study of a college retention program’s use of African-centered rites of passage to transition first-time full-time African-American freshmen to the university. The findings of my doctoral study indicated that the use of the Academic STARS African-centered rites of passage model to deliver educative services and programs is effective in increasing African American college students’ final GPA, as well as retention and graduation rates.
Current Research:
First Person Research Projects
Other areas of interest include:
Achievement Gap
African-American Community Outreach
African-American Male Development
Parental Engagement
Social Justice
Urban Education Reform
Educational Foundations/Philosophy
Diversity/Multiculturalism