Terrell Strayhorn, Ph.D.

Dr. Strayhorn is a nationally recognized scholar, public intellectual, and higher education leader whose work focuses on belonging, student success, and educational equity. He serves as Associate Provost and Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Union University, where he is also Interim Dean of the School of Education and Director of Research for the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He is the author of 14 books and more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, including the foundational text College Students’ Sense of Belonging, which has shaped scholarship and practice across higher education, K–12 education, and workforce development. His research—supported by federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy—examines how belonging, involvement, mentoring, and institutional culture influence persistence, learning, and well-being, particularly for historically marginalized students. At ASU+GSV, Dr. Strayhorn brings a data-driven yet deeply human perspective, bridging rigorous research with actionable strategies for leaders, educators, and innovators.  Blending scholarship with lived experience, Dr. Strayhorn invites audiences to imagine—and build—educational systems where belonging is not accidental, but intentional, measurable, and transformative.