EP 69: Educational Equity for Black Male Students in Higher Education

Welcome to Episode # of The Equity Experience Podcast! In today’s episode, we have an informative and empowering conversation about equity for Black males in K-12 and higher education.  Let’s welcome Dr. Alan Baker, Dr. Dramaine Freeman, and Mr. Nathaniel Smith.   We have an in-depth conversation about: Defining 'educational equity' and educational equity for black males Unpacking the lived experiences and challenges (personal and/or professional) of Black men in higher education Exploring the barriers of access that Black men may experience in schools Identifying the assets, strengths, and solutions in the context of Black male academic success   Discussing accountability and educational equity     Listen to this episode to receive insights, perspectives, and recommendations to help us create strong educational equity learning spaces for our Black boys.    **GUEST SPEAKERS** Dr. Alan Baker, a Houston area native, serves as a chief contributor to the Houston Heath Department’s Health Access and Equity Team. He is both an operational and subject matter point person in the strategic execution, curriculum development, facilitated training, and planning of Health equity coursework.  Having recently defended his dissertation focused on higher education workplace equity, his existing work involves a critical exploration of the theories of race and gender in the context of higher education and public administration policy and practice in those labor settings. Mr. Baker has designed and deployed initiatives to advance and create community-wide opportunities for the development of skills in combating bias and promoting belonging and the development of knowledge about differences, about the importance of cultural competence, and about the needs of uniquely diverse populations.   With over two decades of dedicated experience in education, Dr. Dramaine Freeman's rich and diverse background spans a broad spectrum of roles. These include substitute teaching, classroom instruction, tutoring, counseling, and administration. His educational journey started with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Computer Technology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. However, his true passion was ignited by his desire to advocate for all students' aspirations, with a particular focus on empowering Black males. Dramaine firmly upholds the enduring value of continuous learning and has directed his studies into examining the profound impact of educational structures on minority students and school leadership. This commitment moved him to pursue advanced degrees, acquiring a Master's in Education, a Master's in Administration, an Educational Specialist license, and a doctoral degree from Appalachian State University, with the research focus of exploring the social perceptions of Black males in society and how those perceptions impact Black male leaders in K-12 spaces.   Nathaniel Smith is an ordained minister and lifelong educator recognized for his leadership across New York State, and by UNCF, NAACP, Marquis Who’s Who and others. A faith-oriented agent for social justice, Nathaniel shares his gifts and expertise to educate, engage, and empower students, institutions, and organizations in culturally diverse communities.  Nathaniel is a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Denver under the mentorship of internationally renowned scholar, Dr. Marvin Lynn. He has been accepted into the 2024 scholarly cohort of the prestigious Asa G. Hilliard III and Barbara A. Sizemore Research Course on African Americans and Education led by Drs. Jerlando Jackson and Chance Lewis. Nathaniel has spoken at several national conferences and hosted various educational programs as a discussant alongside revolutionary scholars such as Drs. Michael Eric Dyson, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Marc Lamont Hill, Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Shaun Harper, and Nikki Giovanni.