University of Michigan Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow Darnell Leatherwood’s work focuses on educational equity, school and district effectiveness, and critical quantitative research methodologies. He also serves as a senior research affiliate with the Institute for Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed Methodologies (ICQCM) at Johns Hopkins University. He has held appointments at the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, Louisiana State University, and Saint Louis University.
His research examines the systemic and structural factors that shape educational opportunity and excellence in U.S. public schools, with particular attention to the academic success of Black students. His scholarship has been published in leading academic journals and supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation, Spencer Foundation, Institute of Education Sciences, and National Academy of Education.
Beyond academia, Darnell is an elected member of the Matteson School District 162 Board of Education, founder of the Black Boys Shine campaign, and chief operating officer and board member of Brilliance and Excellence, the backbone organization supporting the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Chicago community.
He earned a PhD in social policy and social welfare, a certificate in education sciences, and an MA in social sciences from the University of Chicago, as well as a BS in management and business process management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.