OCCRL Staff and Affiliates

Colvin Georges Jr.

Research Assistant

Colvin T. Georges, Jr. (he/him) is a doctoral student studying in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, with a concentration in higher education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His research examines how predominantly white institutions (PWIs) respond to occurrences of Black student activism. More specifically, Georges seeks to advance understanding of how these responses impact student success, mental health, and the sense of belonging for racially minoritized students, with the goal of establishing culturally sustaining environments at PWIs.

Georges has gained numerous years of professional experience at multiple postsecondary institutions, where he nurtured a sense of belonging and provided leadership for students, faculty, and staff, respectively. He was also recognized by several organizations for his efforts and named the 2021 Fred S. Bailey Fellow for Community Leadership, Service, and Activism by the UIUC YMCA, the 2020 recipient of the Hibel Family Higher Education Scholarship by the College of Education at UIUC; the 2019 Kuumba New Professional of the Year by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrator’s African American Knowledge Community; the 2018 Philippi Outstanding Professional by the Northeast Greek Leadership Association; and the 2017 Chapter Adviser of the Year by the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Education

• Ph.D., Student, Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.B.A., Management, New York Institute of Technology
• M.A., Higher Education & Student Affairs, New York University
• B.S., Sociology, Florida State University
• B.S., Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University