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:

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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 vitas.
• 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:

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 o 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

2018-19

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 

2017-18

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

1. 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

1. 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—Undergraduate 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—Undergraduate 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 Academic Year

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, Faculty Access and Inclusion, at owusuadx@jmu.edu