My research and professional interests focus on the hardships and triumphs experienced by the African Diaspora. Throughout the years, I have made it my personal goal to investigate the social consequences of African people's dispersal to other parts of the world. Specifically, my research investigates the ramifications of diverse Black populations living in various nations, with an emphasis on the children of immigrants, commonly known as the 1.5 and second-generation.
I am also a fitness coach and the co-creator of Zukossa Fitness, a dance fitness program inspired by African and Caribbean dance traditions and rhythms. My daughter and I created the Zukossa Fitness team while I was a graduate student and Zumba instructor at the University of Maryland College Park to naturally maintain our health and build community through dance fitness. People who strive for excellent health, creativity, and inventiveness, in my opinion, have the mindset and abilities to be in control of their own lives and contribute significantly to their communities.
My professional expertise in areas such as diversity and education took me on a journey of extensive research and teaching on diversity matters in higher education, minority serving institutions, and institutional capacity building. In my desire to impart knowledge in the academic field, I have taught courses in Multicultural Education, Race, Identity & Immigration, and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland, College Park, and California Lutheran University. My research has been published in several outlets such as the renowned Harvard Educational Review, the Review of Higher Education, the Journal of Praxis in Multicultural Education, Qualitative Inquiry, and edited book volumes. Such publications have ensured the longevity and preservation of my thoughts and work whilst validating my background experience, which instigated this movement.
My current research and writing on immigrant youth aim to assist families, educators, and administrators in better understanding identity dynamics, creating culturally responsive and inclusive learning environments for all students and developing a more holistic teaching pedagogy that can be applied to people of all backgrounds. I recently released Some Black Girls, an intriguing and unique new series that investigates issues of race, colorism, xenophobia, and identity among children of immigrants, particularly young girls and women of the African Diaspora. These case stories while complicated, highlight how African immigrant youth suffer prejudice against a backdrop of historical oppression, media misinformation about Africa, and unfair treatment based on their place of origin or phenotypic features – elements over which they have little control. Questions are provided at the end of each chapter to encourage genuine and meaningful discussion that will lead to change and action in order to re-build the African Diaspora bridge, get a deeper knowledge of our global brothers and sisters, and promote global healing. My ultimate goal is to assist clients in making the connection between courageous conversations and strategic action, which may involve curriculum advancements, student activism, and policy engagements. Click here to learn more about the Some Black Girls series, and be sure to follow us on social media @drjslounge!
Coaching and Mentoring
As a first-generation college student and single mother, I was fortunate to have mentors and coaches who guided me toward my academic and professional goals. As a result, I see the value of advising and assisting students, particularly first-generation, low-income, and students of color. I'd be delighted to assist and coach you.
Throughout my graduate and professional careers, I have received awards for and coached students in programs and initiatives designed to recruit and mentor graduate students from diverse backgrounds. As the previous Director of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Scholars Program, I prepared first-generation, low-income, and minoritized students to pursue master's and doctorate degrees. I continue to serve and evaluate projects in programs such as the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, the Southern Regional Education Board, the PROMISE Program, Maryland's Alliance for Graduate Education, and the Professoriate Program (a program of the National Science Foundation). I am extremely proud of my ability to advise and lead, both socially and academically, collaborating with graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines to ensure coaching becomes a productive collaboration from which both sides benefit immensely. To book a graduate school consultation, please click here.
How can Dr. J the Immigrant Whisperer help you? Three ways:
Subscribe to the email list at Zukossa.com to get updates on blog postings, and participate in the forums with like-minded people to learn more on the intersections of health and wellness, race, immigration, and identity. I believe open dialogue creates progress.
Purchase and share articles, and books that document researched and my personal experiences and recommendations from over twenty years of studying cross-cultural interactions and identified proven strategies and techniques to understand and navigate various social contexts. Each individual's experience helps shape the wider picture.
Become a client—Zukossa.com provides racial, ethnic, and cross-cultural educational coaching and professional development courses to families, schools, NGOs, and businesses. Individual coaching and workshops on immigrant adaptation in the United States are available.
