Johnnie L. Allen Jr., M.S.
Johnnie L. Allen Jr., M.S. (he/him/his) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Higher Education program at Florida State University, where he is a graduate research and teaching assistant and an instructor in the Leadership Learning Research Center (LLRC). Johnnie teaches courses in the undergraduate certificate in leadership studies program, specifically teaching Black Male Leadership, Leadership and Ethics, and Contemporary Issues in Leadership. Johnnie is a graduate student fellow with Howard University’s Center for HBCU Research, Leadership, and Policy, exploring Black college men’s gender and leadership experiences at HBCUs. Along with a graduate fellow with Project M.A.L.E.S (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success) at the University of Texas at Austin, where he engages in monthly professional development opportunities through mentoring and educational sessions that focus on preparing for the job market, how to generate research ideas, and conversations regarding the importance of engaging in research that is interdisciplinary. Additionally, Johnnie engages in professional organizations in the field of higher education and student affairs, he is an involved member with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), where he is serving as a 2025-2026 Presidential Intern and a 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award with the Coalition on Men and Masculinities (CMM). His research interests include examining the racialized and gendered experiences of Black men’s leadership learning experiences at minority-serving institutions like HBCUs, progressive Black masculinities and Black college men’s embodiment of Afrafeminist ideologies and Black feminisms as a form of resistance to hegemonic masculinity. Johnnie is a two-time alum from Indiana University Bloomington (IU), where he earned his BS in Community Health and Public Health and M.S.Ed. from the Indiana University Higher Education Program with a certificate in college pedagogy.
William Baptist, Jr., Ed.M.
William Baptist, Jr., Ed.M. is an international education professional and Ph.D. student at Florida State University. William currently serves as a program manager at Florida State University International Programs, introducing students to concepts, theories, and behaviors associated with intercultural communication and equips his students with practical skills for thriving abroad and managing the international internships program. As an International and Multicultural Education Ph.D. student at Florida State’s Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences, William’s research focuses on identifying means of increasing marginalized communities’ higher education and study abroad access. William is a 2024 Florida Education Fund McKnight Doctoral Fellow, International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) Fellow, and 2025 Spencer Foundation Quantitative, Computational & Mixed Methodologies Scholar. William received his B.A. in International Relations from the University of Delaware and his Ed.M. in Global Studies in Education from the University of Urbana-Champaign.
Lauren White, M.A.
Lauren White, M.A. (she/her) is a Ph.D. student at Florida State University, studying higher education. Before beginning her educational journey, she worked as a practitioner in academic and student affairs. A double Bearcat, she received her BBA in Marketing and MA in Educational Studies, Higher Education from the University of Cincinnati. She is a proud McKnight Doctoral Fellow, where she engages in identity and culture-based research. Her identity as a Black woman and her professional experience have shaped her research interest around Black student retention and belonging, specifically as it relates to academic advising. Outside of academics, she enjoys the arts—music, theatre, poetry—and even published Cries from the Darkside of the Moon, a poetry collection highlighting the unique experiences of Black women in America. Her family is her heart, and she has a passion for building authentic community, through all of the things she loves conversation, cards, and coffee.
Derrick Woodard
Derrick Woodard hails from Miami, FL, and is a dedicated higher education professional currently pursuing a Master of Science in Higher Education at Florida State University (FSU), where he also earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with minors in Chemistry and Child Development. While in his studies, Derrick recently joined the PURPOSE Research Fellowship Program at FSU where he is learning valuable research skills to combine his passion for the Black college student experience. With a strong foundation in student development and academic access, Derrick’s work is grounded in creating inclusive educational spaces for historically underrepresented communities. His academic journey informs his commitment to social justice, college access, and retention initiatives for marginalized student populations.Derrick currently serves as the Precollegiate Coordinator for the Upward Bound Program - Gadsden County at Florida State University, where he leads innovative programming, manages student engagement strategies, and teaches Senior Seminar courses across four partner programs. He previously held roles as a Community Outreach Admissions Counselor and First-Year Admissions Counselor, where he played a pivotal role in expanding outreach efforts to over 20 counties in Florida, designing impactful digital content, and guiding hundreds of students through the college admissions process. With a deep passion for equity in education, Derrick continues to leverage research, mentorship, and advocacy to empower first-generation and low-income students toward academic and personal success.
