Dr. E. M. Nuñez and Malik Harouna—Supporting first-generation student success through entrepreneurship, learning from positive failure

Entrepreneur, higher education leader, podcaster, scholar, and change agent. President of Xcelerated Excellence Consulting LLC.

Dr. Jacob Easley II is an internationally accomplished and award-winning educational leader and entrepreneur. He is an expert in educational policy and politics, focusing on educational accountability, effectiveness, and improvement. He has served in various faculty and leadership positions across five different states and the District of Columbia. Dr. Easley is proud of his work as an advocate for equity and access and quality educational opportunities for all students. He has published numerous books, articles, and commentaries on educational accountability, change, equity, and educator preparation. He is the immediate past president of the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). Dr. Easley is a National Association of Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA) lifetime member and former president of the organization. He is also the founder of the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement’s (ICSEI) Culture, Race, and Intersectionality Network.