Book Description

"Instructing and Mentoring The African American College Student: Strategies for Success in Higher Education" focuses on the types of academic environments and classroom strategies that are conducive to the achievement levels of African American college students, particularly, in the areas of effective classroom pedagogy, models of successful campus retention and mentoring techniques that have proven to be advantageous for black students across the country. Reflecting on experiences predominately from professors, administrators and staff of two prestigious historically black colleges, this book offers specific strategies on maximizing student success in the context of African American student culture. The first section of the book deals with the historical, contemporary and cultural contexts for the education of African American students. The second section, Voices from the Field focuses on proven classroom and administrative strategies that promote academic achievement among black students from professionals at Spelman College and Morehouse College. Both institutions are members of Phi Beta Kappa and have graduated such significant twentieth century historical figures as Martin Luther King, Jr., Julian Bond, Alice Walker and Marian Wright Edelman. Louis B. Gallien, Jr. is Professor of Urban Education at Regent University. Previously, he taught at Spelman College and held adjunct positions at Morehouse College and Emory University. His areas of speciality are in African American pedagogy, culture and urban education. His monograph on African American males attitudes towards education entitled: "LostVoices: Reflections on Education From An Imperlied Generation, " an examinaton of five distinct high school cultures, was considered to be a ground-breaking study in 1990 and widely-reported in the "Boston Globe, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Lexington Herald, Essence, Ebony" and journals across the country. Since that time, he has written articles, essays and monographs on hip-hop culture and the framing of values among African American College students, the pedagogical ramifications of W.E.B.DuBois collected works on black college students, and curricular impact of CORE Knowledge on the academic achievement levels of African American middle grade students. Dr. Marshalita Sims Peterson, Ph.D., is chair and assistant professor in the Education Department at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research includes curriculum development and implementation as it relates to culturally responsive pedagogy, oral communication skills in higher education, and instructional strategies for all children. Her action research facilitated the opening of a charter school in the Atlanta metropolitan area. As an advocate for ensuring that students reach their full potential, Dr. Peterson has presented nationally and internationally on quality education, student achievement, and innovative instruction for all students. She seeks to provide a culture of learning that will enhance educational opportunities through effective academic programming. "