Our Guest, Dr. Jennifer Young Wallace, is a tenured Associate Professor/Coordinator of the. Doctoral Program-Educational Leadership for the College of Education at Jackson State University, a Tier II research university, where she presently serves as JSU Faculty Senate President.

Dr. Wallace served as national President 2025-2026 for the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), making history as the first president who is an alumnus of and employed at an HBCU. She is the 5th African American president in the 105-year history of theorganization. She travels over the United States as keynote speaker for national conferences, baccalaureate exercises, organizations’ initiatives and others.

She will be presenting her research on Critical Race Theory in America in Dublin, Ireland, representing the United States as ATE President.

Wallace is the president of the Capital Area Sunset Rotary Club, where she is a charter member, and is having her second round as president. She is a product of Holmes County and graduated from SV Marshall High School in 1987 as Valedictorian.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

Greeting: Nicholas Hartlep

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY

Our Guest, Dr. Larry J. Walker, is an Associate Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator at the University of Central Florida. Previously, he held faculty appointments at Howard University and Loyola University Maryland. His research focused on leadership, policy, and racism. In addition, he served as the Legislative Director for former Congressman Major R. Owens and selected as a Congressional Fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Dr. Walker is a political commentator who appears regularly on Roland Martin Unfiltered and Fox 35 Orlando. He has also appeared on Live NOW from Fox, Fox Business among other national and regional platforms.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

Greeting: Nicholas Hartlep

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY

Our Guest, Awad Ibrahim, is full professor, Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence and holder of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism. He is a curriculum theorist with special interest in economy of hospitality (Derrida), cultural studies, Hip-Hop, youth and Black popular culture, social foundations (i.e., philosophy, history and sociology of education), social justice and community service learning, diasporic and continental African identities, ethnography and applied linguistics. With more than 100 publications, he has researched and published widely in these areas. Professor Ibrahim obtained his PhD from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE), and has been with the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa since 2007. Before that, he taught at Bowling Green State University in Ohio (U.S.).

His immediate projects involve the Black experience on Canadian university campuses, equity policy in Ontario and the daily struggle of 'becoming a citizen' in Canada. Among his most recent books, Disruptive learning narrative framework: Analyzing race, power and privilege in post-secondary international service learning (2023); Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian academy: Teaching, learning, and researching while Black (2022); Black immigrants in North America: Essays on race, immigration, identity, language, Hip-Hop, pedagogy, and the politics of becoming Black (2022); Black immigrants in the United States: Essays on the politics of race, language, and voice (2020).

For high school students, he is known as Dr. Dre.

In this episode he poses the question, “Why was it so easy for Donald Trump to erase DEI policy with the stroke of a pen?”

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD,PMP⁠⁠

Co-Host: Dr. Pinkie Mthembu

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

• EDUP The Experience
• Culture Race and Intersectionality Network
• International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI)

Greeting: Nicholas Hartlep

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY

The Thesis (The Why):

Listening is more than hearing—it's the engine of transformation. When leaders truly listen, they unlock hidden insights and spark meaningful change. The power of listening turns quiet voices into catalysts for excellence and equity.

In education, it’s tempting to equate a lack of objections with unity. But real leaders know: Listening isn’t passive. It’s a proactive, essential skill—one that uncovers stories, insights, and solutions in the quietest corners of our schools and classrooms.

The loudest voices shouldn’t set the agenda. True educational excellence and equity require us to seek out those seldom heard—the students, teachers, and families whose experiences are too often left out of the conversation.

That’s why we’re launching the EDUP Xcelerated Excellence Podcast Campaign— our XE Listening Tour—a journey dedicated to amplifying every voice, especially those that challenge our assumptions.

• This week, intentionally seek out and listen to a quiet voice—a student, colleague, or parent—for at least ten minutes.
• Reflect on what you’ve learned about educational excellence or equity from their story.
• Record your experience and insights via voicemail at edupxe.com. Your contribution may be featured on air during the podcast.

Tune in to and join the #XEListeningTour as we xcelerate educational excellence and equity—one conversation at a time. We look forward to hearing your voice!

Challenge for Educators:

Tune in to and join the #XEListeningTour as we xcelerate educational excellence and equity—one conversation at a time. We look forward to hearing your voice!

Are you listening?

Our Guest, Alicia Harper, is a Superintendent at Achievement First. She is a turnaround strategist, and LinkedIn content creator known for her exceptional leadership in school transformation.

As a former principal, she led a turnaround school where math and reading proficiency rose from ~30% to over 90%, and staff favorability jumped from 47% to 95%, ranking #1 on Org Health Surveys during her tenure. More importantly, together with her team, she built a school where students felt happy and empowered, and their identities are affirmed because joy and rigor co-exist in every classroom.

With 15+ years in urban education, she’s celebrated for her innovative strategies and commitment to positive learning environments.

Alicia holds degrees from Columbia University and completed the Relay National Principal Fellowship. Trained in emotionally intelligent leadership by The Noble Story Group, she inspires change across her network.

Outside of work, she enjoys Brooklyn life with her husband and three sons.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor: The 2.0 Conferences.Register for the 2026 2.0 Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada and receive a discount courtesy of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence with the code EDUPXE15OFF.

Your choice of the 2.0 Conferences include: CXO 2.0, Education 2.0, Health 2.0, Founders 2.0, and the Fueld Conference.

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

Greeting: Eric Almonte

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY

Our Guest, Dr. Marvin Lynn, Dean of the School of Education & Human Development (SEHD) at the University of Colorado Denver, has enjoyed a robust career as a teacher, scholar, public university administrator, and artist. SEHD is a statewide and national leader for education quality and access across the education and human development lifespan. It is the largest graduate school of its kind in Colorado and is highly regarded for its high-quality academic programs that demonstrate evidence of a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Dr. Lynn earned his bachelor’s in Elementary Education from DePaul University in Chicago and a master’s in Curriculum & Teaching from Teachers College-Columbia University. He started his career as an elementary teacher in New York City Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools. He went on to earn his PhD in Race and Ethnic Studies in Education from University of California, Los Angeles. Before his arrival at CU Denver in June of 2022, he served as dean and professor of education at Portland State University and Indiana University South Bend.

Dean Lynn is one of the most highly cited researchers in the nation. His research focuses on race, education, the work and lives of Black male educators, and best practices for advancing teacher diversity in the United States. Dr. Lynn is quoted regularly in local, national, and international news stories. His research has been recognized by the American Educational Research Association, and the University of the Free State in South Africa.

At the national level, he has served as an Executive Board Member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and currently serves on the Boards of Directors for the Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate (CPED), and the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP). At the state level, Dean Lynn serves as the Co-Chair for the Colorado Deans of Colleges of Education (CCODE) and is the inaugural Chair of the Colorado Educator Preparation Advisory (CPEAC). CPEAC is part of Colorado statute.

Dr. Lynn is also an accomplished singer—performing in a variety of genres including classical and gospel. He has performed with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Opera Company, the Soul Children of Chicago, Rev. Clay Evans, the Fellowship Baptist Church, and others. He is the founder of the South Shore Opera Company of Chicago where he has also performed regularly.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor: The 2.0 Conferences. Register for the 2026 2.0 Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada and receive a discount courtesy of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence with the code EDUPXE15OFF.

Your choice of the 2.0 Conferences include: CXO 2.0, Education 2.0, Health 2.0, Founders 2.0, and the Fueld Conference.

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

Greeting: Eric Almonte

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY

Listen!

Are you listening?

This is Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP, host of the EDUP Xcelerated Excellence podcast where we seek to advance educational excellence and equity.

What if the key to educational excellence isn't just what we teach, but how well we listen?

Listening isn't just about hearing words—it's about understanding perspectives, building trust, and creating spaces where every voice matters. When educators truly listen to students, families, and communities, we unlock pathways to excellence and equity that transform lives.

Join us as we engage with thought leaders, practitioners, andchange makers who are advancing educational excellence through authentic and meaningful dialogue.

Tune in to EDUP Xcelerated Excellence—because when we listen, we learn, and when we learn together, we create lasting change.

Our Guest, Bryce Jhourdyn Thompson, is an educator, mentor, and emerging school leader committed to creating equitable, student-centered learning environments. He began my journey in education as a Future Teachers of Excellence Fellow (Cohort ’21), where he developed a strong foundation in culturally responsive teaching and a deep commitment to uplifting the communities he serves.

In 2025, he had the honor of speaking at the Black Men in Education Convening (BMEC), an experience that further shaped his perspective on representation, leadership, and the power of authentic storytelling within the profession. Bryce recounts, “Sharing my voice at BMEC strengthened my commitment to advocating for spaces where students and educators feel seen, valued, and supported.”

He currently pursuing certification in Elementary Education and Social Studies, along with his master’s degree, as part of his long-term goal to transition into school leadership. Bryce’s work is guided by a vision of building strong school cultures, expanding youth mentorship opportunities, and advocating for mental health supports that center the well-being of students.

At his core, he driven by community and purpose. Bryce’s goal is to be a consistent, positive presence, a leader who inspires trust, champions opportunity, and helps create schools where every student has the chance to thrive. Bryce shares, “I seeeducation as both a responsibility and a calling, and I’m committed to using my voice, my story, and my leadership to make a meaningful impact.”

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor: The 2.0 Conferences. Register for the 2026 2.0 Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada and receive a discount courtesy of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence with the code EDUPXE15OFF.

Your choice of the 2.0 Conferences include: CXO 2.0, Education 2.0, Health 2.0, Founders 2.0, and the Fueld Conference.

Sponsor: Patriox oxygenated water. Drinking Patriox helps oxygenate the body, promoting overall health, energy, and vitality. Receive a 10% discount on your next purchase with the code EDUPXE.

Resources:

• EDUP The Experience
• The Center for Black Educator Development
• St Ignatious Loyola Academy

Greeting: Jamal Watson

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY