Terrell
Strayhorn

Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn (Ph.D., Virginia Tech) is Professor of Education and Psychology, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, and Interim Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he also serves as Director of Research in the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

An internationally recognized education equity scholar, Strayhorn’s research focuses on the social psychological determinants of educational success for racially minoritized faculty, staff, students, and other vulnerable populations in global contexts. His ground-breaking research on college students’ sense of belonging has informed state policies, transformed campus/school and workplace practices, STEM environments, and led to successful intervention testing.

Strayhorn is a highly cited researcher, Associate Editor of Social Sciences & Humanities, Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Education, Guest Editor of Youth and Sustainability, as well as author of 11 books and over 200 refereed journal articles, monographs and reports, with expert commentary on NPR, Huffington Post, and other national media outlets.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Strayhorn is a faculty affiliate at Rutgers University’s Center for MSIs Fellow of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Leadership Institute, Diversity Scholar-in- Residence at Harrisburg Area Community College, Member of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools Research Advisory Committee, and several other boards.

He has been named one of the country’s top diversity and inclusion scholars by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, “Top 20 to Know in Education,” and “Top 40 under 40,” by BusinessFirst, to name a few awards.

He earned a Ph.D. in education from Virginia Tech, a master’s in education policy from the University of Virginia (UVA), and a bachelor’s in music and religious studies from UVA.