Congratulations Dr. Leonard Richards
College of Education
SUMMARY: Dr. Leonard Richards (third from left) successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Do You Really Want Us?: Examining the Recruitment and Hiring of Faculty of Color at James Madison University's College of Education” this November 2021.
by Kara Myers
Dr. Leonard Richards successfully defended his dissertation on Saturday, November 20, 2021. His dissertation, entitled “Do You Really Want Us?: Examining the Recruitment and Hiring of Faculty of Color at James Madison University's College of Education” explored how people of color are recruited and hired at JMU.
On Sunday, November 21, a group of COE faculty (Drs. David Owusu-Ansah, Ruthie Bosch, and Oris Griffin) celebrated his accomplishments. When you see Dr. Richards, please join us in congratulating him for hitting another incredible milestone in his career.
Dr. Richards pursued his doctoral studies in Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, earning an Ed.D. in Leadership & Learning in Organizations. Prior to that, he was at JMU where he completed his bachelor's degree (majoring in History and minoring in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Africana Studies) and master's degree in Secondary Education (leading to an endorsement in 6-12 History and Social Sciences). His wife, Deserae Richards, is also a JMU alumna.
Dr. Richards was hired as a 2020-21 doctoral fellow. We are thrilled about our colleague’s latest accomplishment!
