Research Discipline/Bio
Shapel Monique LaBorde is a doctoral student in the Philosophy and Education program, with research deeply shaped by her identity as a Black feminist mother, educator, and scholar. Her work focuses on intersectionality in education, exploring how race, gender, and class influence the educational experiences of marginalized communities. Grounded in Black feminist thought, Shapel challenges Eurocentric epistemologies, advocating for decolonized embodied knowledge that centers non-Western and community-based knowledge.
As an educator, she employs liberation pedagogy, inspired by thinkers like bell hooks and Paulo Freire, fostering classrooms that encourage critical thinking, empowerment, and social justice. Her research highlights motherhood as a site of resistance, emphasizing care and nurturance as radical educational tools. Shapel is committed to creating inclusive, culturally relevant learning spaces that empower students to imagine and build more equitable futures today.
Educational Background
Master of Arts, Philosophy and Education, Teachers College Columbia University,2023
Master of Arts, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Hunter College School of Education,2018
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Spelman College,2013
Honors/Awards
Emerging Scholar Awardee, Northeastern Philosophy of Education Society (NEPES), 2025
Rise Up Foundation Scholarship, National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), 2025
Dean's Grant for Student Research, Teachers College Columbia University, 2024-2025
Emerging Scholar Awardee, Northeastern Philosophy of Education Society (NEPES), 2023
Last Updated: Oct 27, 2025