People
BERC is comprised of research faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students and alumni of Teachers College and other institutions devoted to enriching Black education through transdisciplinary
Staff
Teachers College, Columbia University
Sonya Douglass Horsford, Ed.D. serves as founding director of the Black Education Research Collective (BERC) and Associate Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include Black education, education leadership, and the politics of race and urban school leadership in the post-Civil Rights Era.
Teachers College, Columbia University
Sonya Douglass Horsford, Ed.D. serves as founding director of the Black Education Research Collective (BERC) and Associate Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include Black education, education leadership, and the politics of race and urban school leadership in the post-Civil Rights Era.
Sarah J. Stewart, Ph.D. is a Bruce S. Goldberg Postdoctoral Fellow in Community Health
and Well-being for the Black Education Research Collective (BERC). Her research interests focus
on racial socialization, Black racial identity development, DEI, and mental health in educational
settings. Dr. Stewart earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Howard University, a
master’s degree in School Counseling from the Loyola University Chicago and Bachelor of
Science in Family Community Services from the Michigan State University. Dr. Stewart has
worked at The University of North Carolina - Charlotte’s Christine Price Counseling and
Psychological Services as a staff psychologist, as well as Howard University’s Math, Science, and
Engineering Research Center (HUMSE) as a research assistant for a NSF grant proposal on
Diversity Discourse, which specifically, focused on the actual meanings and functions of the
term “diversity” among undergraduate engineering students. She recently published a
manuscript focused on colorism and the psychological well-being of professional African –
American men for a book titled “Colorism The, Now, & Tomorrow: Redefining A Global
Phenomenon with Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice.” Also, Dr. Stewart worked as
an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wingate University and Livingstone College.
Dr. Stewart resides in Concord, NC with husband her three children. She enjoys refurbishing
furniture, mediation, watching Big Ten sports and going to the beach with her family.
Sarah J. Stewart, Ph.D. is a Bruce S. Goldberg Postdoctoral Fellow in Community Health
and Well-being for the Black Education Research Collective (BERC). Her research interests focus
on racial socialization, Black racial identity development, DEI, and mental health in educational
settings. Dr. Stewart earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Howard University, a
master’s degree in School Counseling from the Loyola University Chicago and Bachelor of
Science in Family Community Services from the Michigan State University. Dr. Stewart has
worked at The University of North Carolina - Charlotte’s Christine Price Counseling and
Psychological Services as a staff psychologist, as well as Howard University’s Math, Science, and
Engineering Research Center (HUMSE) as a research assistant for a NSF grant proposal on
Diversity Discourse, which specifically, focused on the actual meanings and functions of the
term “diversity” among undergraduate engineering students. She recently published a
manuscript focused on colorism and the psychological well-being of professional African –
American men for a book titled “Colorism The, Now, & Tomorrow: Redefining A Global
Phenomenon with Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice.” Also, Dr. Stewart worked as
an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wingate University and Livingstone College.
Dr. Stewart resides in Concord, NC with husband her three children. She enjoys refurbishing
furniture, mediation, watching Big Ten sports and going to the beach with her family.
Doctoral Student, Education Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University
Co-Chair, Graduate Student Committee, AERA Leadership for Social Justice SIG
Dominique Lester is a third year doctoral student in the Education Leadership Ph.D. program. His sponsor and advisor is Professor Sonya Douglass-Horsford. Dominique’s research and work explores how theology and ethics help inform the educational philosophies of Black superintendents in the south. Dominique joins Teachers College from Atlanta, Georgia, with an extensive background in early childhood education, theology and history. Dominique has served as a classroom teacher, training coordinator for academic organizations and institutions that work with marginalized populations and as a minister in local congregations. Dominique earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. A Master of Divinity from Emory University: Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Arts in History and Education from Teachers College: Columbia University. Dominique is currently the graduate student co-chair for the Leadership for Social Justice SIG with AERA.
Dominique serves as the Chief of Staff- Director of Community Relations and Programming at a mega church in Westchester County where he manages over 60 different ministries, attends to day to day operations, leadership development of adult faith leaders, risk management training, establishes corporate partnerships for non-profits with educational aspirations, staffs and manages food pantry in Mount Vernon, assists in the management of a multi-million-dollar annual operating budget and organizes social action campaigns around voting, unfair labor practices and education reform. Dominique attempts academically and vocationally to bridge the gap of the public square and private life of Black moral leadership and evoke justice seeking practices through scholar activism.
Dominique loves music, sports, and a good spades game. Dominique also collects African American Children’s books as a hobby. Dominique is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, incorporated and believes that the Atlanta Braves is the greatest baseball team of all time.
Doctoral Student, Education Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University
Co-Chair, Graduate Student Committee, AERA Leadership for Social Justice SIG
Dominique Lester is a third year doctoral student in the Education Leadership Ph.D. program. His sponsor and advisor is Professor Sonya Douglass-Horsford. Dominique’s research and work explores how theology and ethics help inform the educational philosophies of Black superintendents in the south. Dominique joins Teachers College from Atlanta, Georgia, with an extensive background in early childhood education, theology and history. Dominique has served as a classroom teacher, training coordinator for academic organizations and institutions that work with marginalized populations and as a minister in local congregations. Dominique earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. A Master of Divinity from Emory University: Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Arts in History and Education from Teachers College: Columbia University. Dominique is currently the graduate student co-chair for the Leadership for Social Justice SIG with AERA.
Dominique serves as the Chief of Staff- Director of Community Relations and Programming at a mega church in Westchester County where he manages over 60 different ministries, attends to day to day operations, leadership development of adult faith leaders, risk management training, establishes corporate partnerships for non-profits with educational aspirations, staffs and manages food pantry in Mount Vernon, assists in the management of a multi-million-dollar annual operating budget and organizes social action campaigns around voting, unfair labor practices and education reform. Dominique attempts academically and vocationally to bridge the gap of the public square and private life of Black moral leadership and evoke justice seeking practices through scholar activism.
Dominique loves music, sports, and a good spades game. Dominique also collects African American Children’s books as a hobby. Dominique is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, incorporated and believes that the Atlanta Braves is the greatest baseball team of all time.
Affiliated Faculty at Teachers College
Mark A. Gooden, Ph.D. is a Christian Johnson Endeavor Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. His scholarly interests include principalship, anti-racist leadership, culturally responsive school leadership, and legal issues in education.
Mark A. Gooden, Ph.D. is a Christian Johnson Endeavor Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. His scholarly interests include principalship, anti-racist leadership, culturally responsive school leadership, and legal issues in education.
Michelle Knight-Manuel, Ph.D. is a Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly Interests include:
Equity Issues in Urban Education; Teacher Education; Qualitative Research. Specifically:
- Youth Studies (College Readiness and Access, Immigrant Education, and Civic Engagement)
- Feminist Theories ( Black, Multicultural and Critical Race Feminisms)
- Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
- African-American Teaching Practices with Diverse Populations
- Culturally Grounded Research Methodologies
Watch Professor Knight Discuss Culturally Responsive Education
Watch Professor Knight Discuss Cultural Rules of Emotion
Michelle Knight-Manuel, Ph.D. is a Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly Interests include:
Equity Issues in Urban Education; Teacher Education; Qualitative Research. Specifically:
- Youth Studies (College Readiness and Access, Immigrant Education, and Civic Engagement)
- Feminist Theories ( Black, Multicultural and Critical Race Feminisms)
- Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
- African-American Teaching Practices with Diverse Populations
- Culturally Grounded Research Methodologies
Watch Professor Knight Discuss Culturally Responsive Education
Watch Professor Knight Discuss Cultural Rules of Emotion
Felicia Mensah Moore, Ph.D. is a Professor of Science and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include Science Teacher Education; Diversity, Equity & Social Justice Education; Urban and Multicultural Education.
Felicia Mensah Moore, Ph.D. is a Professor of Science and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include Science Teacher Education; Diversity, Equity & Social Justice Education; Urban and Multicultural Education.
Cally Waite, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor of History and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include the transformation of higher education in the late 19th century; historical theory and methodology.
Cally Waite, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor of History and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include the transformation of higher education in the late 19th century; historical theory and methodology.
Erica Walker, Ph.D. is a Clifford Brewster Upton Professor of Mathematical Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include racial and gender equity in mathematics education, student persistence in advanced mathematics, and mathematics education policy.
Erica Walker, Ph.D. is a Clifford Brewster Upton Professor of Mathematical Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests include racial and gender equity in mathematics education, student persistence in advanced mathematics, and mathematics education policy.
Advisory Board
Vanessa Siddle Walker, the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of African American Educational Studies at Emory University. For over 25 years, she has explored the segregated schooling of African American children, considering sequentially the climate that permeated segregated schools, the network of professional collaborations that explains the similarity across schools, and the hidden systems of advocacy that demanded equality and justice for the children in the schools. Her research has garnered a number of awards, including the prestigious Grawmeyer Award for Education and the AERA Early Career Award. In addition, she has received awards from the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the American Education Studies Association, and three awards from AERA Divisions, including Best New Female Scholar, Best New Book, and Outstanding Book. Walker is past president (2019) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Vanessa Siddle Walker, the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of African American Educational Studies at Emory University. For over 25 years, she has explored the segregated schooling of African American children, considering sequentially the climate that permeated segregated schools, the network of professional collaborations that explains the similarity across schools, and the hidden systems of advocacy that demanded equality and justice for the children in the schools. Her research has garnered a number of awards, including the prestigious Grawmeyer Award for Education and the AERA Early Career Award. In addition, she has received awards from the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the American Education Studies Association, and three awards from AERA Divisions, including Best New Female Scholar, Best New Book, and Outstanding Book. Walker is past president (2019) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).