What is the Preparing Future Faculty Program
On average, the Executive Director for Faculty Access and Inclusion at James Madison University (JMU) has been host to four Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) fellows each year since the fall of 2007. The PFF concept dates back to the respective conversations of the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AACU) and American Council on Education (ACE) in the early 1990s about the need to provide teaching opportunities to doctoral candidates prior to the completion of the dissertation and also to create opportunities to attract more minority candidates to the teaching profession. James Madison University (JMU) adopted the PFF concept and has recruited underrepresented dissertation fellows as part of its diversity and inclusion initiatives. PFF fellows receive accommodation, monthly stipend, travel allowance (to academic conferences, to research sites and for visitation with dissertation committee members), and are provided teaching and professional mentorship at host academic department. Fellows enjoy JMU library privileges as well as the research and writing workshops and spaces provided through the Center for Faculty Innovations.
Program Objectives:
The PFF program is consistent with JMU institutional objectives that seek to promote access, inclusion and diversity that are foundational for the provision of outstanding education. The PFF program is mutually beneficial to all participants. It provides mentorship to PFF fellow, contributes to the atmosphere of inclusivity at participating academic units, brings new perspectives to students and establishes connections between our partner-HBCUs and JMU.
How to Recruit PFFs
JMU has partnership agreement with Morgan State University and Howard University by which dissertation year fellows are recruited. Though no such agreements exist with Ohio State University and SUNY at Binghamton, dissertation year fellows from programs at these institutions have participated in the PFF program at JMU in the past.
Faculty members and academic department with interest to host future underrepresented PFF candidates from institutions and programs other than those that JMU partners with, must hold consultation with the Executive Director for Faculty Access and Inclusion.
It is best when such conversations take place a year ahead of when the PFF is anticipated to commence residency at JMU.
Benefits of the PFF Program
The PFF fellowship program benefits both the host department as much as it does to the candidates:
- Mentoring Expectations:
- Faculty members in the area of specialization mentor PFF fellows.
- Academic/Research mentors may act as external examiners of PFF fellows’ dissertations.
- The academic department provides teaching mentorships.
- JMU Libraries and Educational Technologies provide access to research support.
- Center for Faculty Innovations (CFI) provides professional development opportunities.
- Benefits to JMU:
- PFF fellows add diversity to participating academic departments, the colleges, and the university.
- PFF fellows expose our student to scholars who are trained at universities that have different historic missions.
- JMU faculty members are positioned to understand and appreciate the quality and value of education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
- The program provides an opportunity for faculty-to-faculty exchanges and partnerships.
- When PFF fellows and faculty from HBCUs are internationals, additional value is experienced—often providing more global perspectives.
- The partnerships provide opportunities for JMU graduate programs to attract an increased pool of diverse graduate candidates.
- The partnerships provide network opportunities for JMU programs to increase the pool of diverse faculty applicants during position searches.
- Benefits to PFF Fellows:
- Fellows receive dissertation support
- Fellow have the opportunity to focus on dissertation completion.
- Fellows have access to JMU’s extensive library collection as well as interlibrary loans.
- Fellows are mentored by departmental faculty and participate in department and division meetings along with full-time faculty.
- Fellows participate in new faculty orientation and are exposed to faculty tenure and promotion guidelines and procedures.
- Fellows are acclimatized to the university setting prior to entrance to the profession.
- Fellows have the opportunity to enhance curriculum vitaes.
- Fellows can collaborate with colleagues who have similar research interests.
- Fellows have an opportunity to teach in their content areas.
- Fellows can participate in professional development seminars offered through the Center for Faculty Innovation (CFI).
- Fellows can engage in departmental, college, university, community, and global initiatives that are advanced at JMU.
Past PFF Fellows:
2024-2025
Sarah Jenkins (Howard Univesity) English
Taj Rollins (Morgan State University) Psychology
William Johnson (Stony Brook) History
AJ Lemon (PFF affiliate, University of Southern Mississippi) Chemistry
2023-2024
Constance Pruitt (Howard University) Political Science
Kahlil Green (Morgan State University) Social Work
Tiajuana L. Tillman (Morgan State University) Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication
Ojo Afolabi (Morgan State University) History
AJ Lemon (PFF affiliate, Univeristy of Southern Mississippi) Chemistry
2022-2023
Richard Robinet (LSU) Geology & Environmental Sciences
Kahlil Green (Morgan State) College for Health & Behavioral Sciencees
Biruk Haregu (JMU) African, African American and Diaspora Studies Center
Constance Pruitt (Howard University) Political Science
2021-2022
Benita Dix (Morgan State) History
Miriam Kilimo (Emory) Anthropology
Richard Robinet (LSU) Geology & Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Guerrero (Morgan State) School of Music
2020-2021
Marcus Wolfe (Morgan State) PFF- Math Education (Middle & Secondary Education)
Benita Dix (Morgan State) PFF- History
Taylor Geyton (Morgan State) PFF- Social Work
2019-2020
Amy Lewis (Michigan State University) PFF-Music
Stephanie Bowles (Georgia State) PFF- Microbiology
Benita Dix (Morgan State) PFF- History
Marcus Wolfe (Morgan State) PFF- Math
Giselle Hendy (Howard University) PFF- Education
2018-2019
Hatajai Lassiter (Howard University) PFF—Microbiology
Morgan Smalls (Howard University) PFF—School of Media Art and Design (SMAD)
Zaakira Sadrud-Din (Morgan State University) PFF—History
Otis Eldridge (Morgan State) PFF- Leadership
2017-2018
Dr. Alice Thomas (Howard University) PFF/General Education Visiting Faculty--Sociology
Dr. Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) Postdoctoral Fellow—Math/Education
Zaakira Sadrud-Din (Morgan State University) PFF—History
Liseli Fitzpatrick (Ohio State University) PFF—Religion
- Lynn Trice (Howard University) PFF—Political Science
Kenisha Ford (Howard University) PFF—Physics
2016-2017
Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) Postdoctoral Fellow—Math-Education
Bridgette Robinson (Morgan State University) PFF—History
Shaneda Destine (Howard University) PFF—Sociology
- Lynn Tice (Howard University) PFF—Political Science
2015-2016
Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) Postdoctoral Fellow—Math-Education
Genesis Alberto (Howard University) PFF—Mathematics & Statistics
Shaunte Montgomery (Howard University) PFF—Writing and Rhetoric
Bridgette Robinson (Morgan State University) PFF—History
Maleka Brown (Howard University) PFF—Psychology
2014-2015
Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) Postdoctoral Fellow—Math Education
Saidat Ilo (Howard University) PFF—Political Science
Tareq Zidan (Howard University) PFF—Social Work (SOWK)
Dana Hammond (Morgan State) PFF—History
Maleka Brown (Howard University) PFF—Psychology
2013-2014
Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) PFF—Math Education
Uchenna Onuzulike (Howard University) PFF—School of Media, Arts and Design (SMAD)
Lynn Washington (Morgan Stare University) Postdoctoral—English
Candice Pitts (Howard University) PFF—English
Anta Sane (Howard University) PFF—Political Science
2012-2013
Andre Nicholson (Howard University) PFF—School of Media, Arts and Design (SMAD)
Tyechia Thompson (Howard University) PFF—English
Nicole Cathey (Howard University) PFF—Political Science
Jemimah Mwakisha (SUNY Binghamton) PFF—School of Media, Arts and Design (SMAD)
Barbara Franklin (Morgan State University) PFF—Math Education
2011-2012
Yvette White (Howard University) PFF—English
Marcus Allen (Morgan State University) PFF—History
Jemimah Mwakisha (SUNY Binghamton) PFF—Communication Studies (SCOM)
2010-2011
John Johnson (Howard University) PFF—Math and Statistics
Gwinyai Muzorewa (Morgan State University) PFF—History at JMU
Jayne Cabbage (Howard University) PFF—School of Media, Arts and Design (SMAD)
2009-2010
Godfrey Vincent (Morgan State University) PFF—History at JMU
Chevon Garrah (Howard University) PFF—School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD-Fall Semester
Adam Kline (Howard University) PFF—School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD-Spring Semester)
Additional Information:
For additional information, please contact Dr. David Owusu-Ansah,
Professor of History & Executive Director, Access and Educational Outreach, at owusuadx@jmu.edu
