EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

Our guest, Dr. André O. Hudson , is Dean of the College of Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) , a role he has held since 2023. He previously served as Head of the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences from 2017 to 2022. Originally from Jamaica, he emigrated to the United States at age 14 and earned his B.S. in Biology from Virginia Union University in 2000. He received his...

Our guest, Dr. Andy Jacks , is an award-winning principal, speaker, author, and leadership coach dedicated tohelping educators build thriving school communities full of energy, growth, and fun. A former Virginia Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, he shares practical, research-based strategies on leadership, school improvement, student engagement, and creating lasting posit...

Our guests, Dr. E. M. Nuñez and Malik Harouna , are Assistant Director for Scholar Support & Educational Access at San FrancisBay University (SFBU) (SFBU Scholars Program) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Aline, respectively.   Dr. Nuñez (they/them) is a higher education and nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience advancing equity-driven programs for first-generation, low-income...

Our guest, Dr. Maylén R.R. Sullivan , is the 2026 SWCOLT and California Language Teacher of the Year. A passionate trilingual educator originally from Cuba, she serves as the Coronado Unified School District World Language Teacher on Special Assignment (ToSA), where she leads K-12 professional development and shapes the department's vision.   Sullivan believes language is a powerful vehicle for pr...

Our Guest, Tiffani Jaseph , is a dedicated special education professional with 16 years of teaching experience. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Arizona . Driven by her passion for children, Ms. Jaseph began her career in general education but soon realized her true calling in special education and made the trans...

Our Guests, Ed Alvarez and Dr. Cheryl Ingram , are Executive and Executive Deputy Directors, respectively, of the Silicon Valley Equity in Education Institute (SVEEI).   Ed’s education experience spans the past 25 years, including roles as President and Board Chair of The National Hispanic University , The Foundation for Hispanic Education , and the Latino Education Advancement Foundation . Curren...

Our Guest, Dr. Terrance McNeil , is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Practice and Leadership at Tennessee State University , where he serves as Program Coordinator of the Higher Education Leadership Ed. D. program. With over 20 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, his work centers on equitable educator preparation, leadership development, and expanding ac...

Our Guest, Dr. Taha Duri , is a figure in the fields of architecture and design. Currently, he serves as the “Dean of the College of Design ” at the American University in the Emirates (AUE) . He has a rich academic background and extensive professional experience in architecture, interior design, and the built environment.   Professor Duri earned a Ph. D. in Architecture from the Universityof Pen...

Our Guest, Dr. Brad Fuster , is Provost and Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs at San Francisco Bay University and Host of EdUp Innovation . Brad Fuster has extensive experience in higher education leadership. As a respected music professor and academic leader, Fuster brings deep expertise in academicaffairs, enrollment management, international program management, and technological inno...

Our Guest, Prince Johnson , a 26-year veteran educator, is the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year as well as the 2025 Gilder Lehrman New York History Teacher of the Year. A passionate advocate for career and technical education (CTE) and a leader in sustainability, he teaches social studies at Food and Finance High School in New York City and serves on the NYCPS Climate Education Leadership T...

Our Guest, Prince Johnson , a 26-year veteran educator, is the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year as well as the 2025 Gilder Lehrman New York History Teacher of the Year. A passionate advocate for career and technical education (CTE) and a leader in sustainability, he teaches social studies at Food and Finance High School in New York City and serves on the NYCPS Climate Education Leadership T...

Engage in the hashtag#XEListeningTour . Listen to and reflect on a voice that is often overlooked in your community surrounding educational excellence or equity. Share your perspective via voicemail at edupxe.com .

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...

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...

Our Guest, Dr. Larry J. Walke r, 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 Congression...

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 an...

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, ess...

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...

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 i...

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 ever...

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 h...

Our Guest, Marlene Megos , is the founder and CEO of Equate Education , a data-driven platform supporting educator preparation programs with a focus on residency and apprenticeships. With over 30 years of experience from classroom to state level educational leadership, she developed and led one of Connecticut’s first residency and registered teacher apprenticeship programs, raising over $4.2 milli...

Our Guest, Anna Young ,  founder of Sunnyside Literacy Lab , started her career with Teach for America and has worked in education as a humanities teacher, special educator, and academic interventionist. She currently supervises graduate students at CUNY Hunter College .   She earned a B.A. in Political Science from McGill University and an M.S. in Adolescent Special Education from CUNY Hunter Col...

Our Guest, Dr. Christopher Bonn , is President and CEO of BonFire Leadership Solutions . He is a celebrated educator, leadership coach, author, college professor, and musician. With over 35 years of experience, he has led institutional turnarounds, inspired educators worldwide, and createdculturally resonant music that spans languages and borders.   As a Tribal Adjudication Certified Professional,...

Thanks, Santa, for helping us at EDUP Xcelerated Excellence , spread cheer and joy.