Rutgers GSE CMSI

Empowering Voices: Unveiling Insights from "The Other Black Voter"

    This enlightening and interactive webinar delved into the insightful findings of the report "The Other Black Voter." This event is specifically tailored for faculty, staff, and students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), especially those involved in civic engagement initiatives. Our focus was on exploring innovative strategies and practical approaches to enriching the civic engagement landscape within HBCU communities.

    Date & Time: February 14, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET

    Moderated by Eugene Pringle, Senior Professorial Lecturer, American University

    Speakers include:

    • Amanda Wilkerson, Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida
    • Shalander Samules, Assistant Professor, Kean University

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    About Eugene Pringle

    Eugene Pringle, Jr. believes in the power of education and the prime need of sound educational practices and outcomes for students. With a passion for literacy, leadership, teacher preparation, and varied professional development methodologies, his educational tenure has been shaped by and has encompassed each. Pringle currently serves as a Senior Professorial Lecturer in the Education Policy and Leadership Program at American University.  He currently holds an appointment in the master's and doctorate programs.

    Prior to this role, he served in the capacity of Director of the School of Education at Bethune-Cookman University. As a teacher education practitioner and researcher, he merged theory, research, and application to prepare students for careers in the K-12 setting.  He also served as the department chair for elementary education, reading instructor, taught introductory education courses and facilitated senior research projects. 

    Pringle served in multiple capacities in urban school settings.  He has served as an English language arts teacher, literacy instructional coach, and assistant principal.   Additionally, Pringle has delivered professional development and participated in collaborative team efforts to support the implementation of standards-based instruction at the school and district level, developed district-wide secondary ELA curriculum, developed district-wide progress monitoring assessments, and provided support to teams of teachers as a SpringBoard trainer through The College Board. 

    Through a collaborative approach with faculty, students, and school districts, he works to identify critical issues in education, promote efforts to develop systems-based literacy within urban and rural school districts, examine critical trends and issues in teacher preparation programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and examine the Black male leadership pipeline in the K-12 and higher education setting.  

    Pringle’s awards and recognitions include: Bethune-Cookman University Top 40 Under 40, University of Central Florida 2018 30 Under 30 Class, and the  International Literacy Association 30 Under 30.

    About Amanda Wilkerson

    Amanda Wilkerson is a dynamic force in academia, relentlessly probing the depths of K-20 education to elevate human potential. A beacon for equity and excellence, she's reshaping the higher education landscape through her unwavering commitment to collaboration, community engagement, and transformative action. At the University of Central Florida's College of Community Innovation and Education, Wilkerson shines as an Assistant Professor, pushing boundaries and igniting change.
     
    Her expertise extends to authoring cutting-edge educational resources and spearheading pivotal forums on crucial civic and academic issues. Wilkerson is a catalyst for growth among educational leaders, empowering them with equity-driven teaching strategies. Her research is a tour de force, unveiling innovative pedagogical practices, policy reforms, and community organization tactics that not only strengthen community ties but also catapult student achievement to new heights.
     
    Honored with the Holmes Scholars Association's Outstanding Service in Education Award and the Adult Higher Education Association's Diversity Scholarship, Wilkerson's impact resonates far beyond conventional realms. As the National Chair of the Urban Education Topical Action Group for AACTE, she masterminds strategic partnerships that deliver essential services to educators and students in underserved urban areas, making her a true trailblazer in education.
     
    About Shalander Samules
     
    Shalander “Shelly” Samuels is an Afro-Caribbean Assistant Professor in the English department in the College of Liberal Arts, at Kean University. Her research interests include: Addressing inequities in the teaching and learning of Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students and scholars. Specifically, she aims to help bridge the gap in academic achievement between English Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOLs/ELLs/ELs) and other racialized groups and their counterparts. She is relentless in her stance as an anti-racist scholar and is keen on developing and enhancing innovative teaching and learning strategies and creating opportunities via concepts of intersectionality as well as through Language and Literacy in K-20 spaces. Her recent co-edited book entitled, Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders was published in 2023.