When it comes to topics like underachievement and closing achievement and opportunity gaps by race and income, Dr. Donna Y. Ford is one of the nation’s most recognized scholars. Her research focuses on equity issues in testing and assessment, multicultural education and urban education. A proud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ford is known for mentoring legions of younger scholars who have gone on to become university professors. At Vanderbilt, Ford holds the Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair. She is the former 2013 Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor and former Betts Chair of Education & Human Development. She currently holds a joint appointment in the Department of Special Education and Department of Teaching and Learning. Ford has written over 200 articles and book chapters and has authored or co-edited more than a dozen books. Her curriculum vitae is more than 100 pages long. She is the co-founder of the Scholar Identity Institute (SII) for Black Males, and she created the Ford Female Achievement Model of Excellence (FAME) and a two-time board member of the National Association for Gifted Children.
