Tomika L. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D. in higher education, Indiana University – Bloomington
• M.S.Ed. in higher education and student affairs, Indiana University – Bloomington
• B.A. in American studies and African-American and African studies, University of Virginia

Research interests

College experiences of women of color; college athletics and holistic development of student-athletes; leadership of K-12 and early childhood educators; diversity and equity

Career highlights

• Founder of the Black Athlete Sister Circle (BASC) program for black women student-athletes at Division I institutions
• Recipient, Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaching Association (IWLCA) President’s Award 2019-2020
• Recipient, VCU School of Education Outstanding Mentor Award 2020
• Panelist, Congressional Collegiate Athlete Caucus, March 2020

Recent publications

• Ferguson, T., Berry, R., & Collins, J. (2021). “Where is our space within the ivory tower?” The teaching experiences of Black women faculty in graduate education programs. Journal of Research on Leadership Education.
• Ferguson, T., Hiort-Wright, S., Witmus, N., & Graves, K. (2021). How undergraduate research influences student-athletes’ post-graduation plans. Perspectives on Undergraduate Research & Mentoring.
• Ferguson, T., Brocklebank, M., Hvozdovic, M. & Moore, V. (2020). The role of advocacy, coping, and communication for athletic administrators in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. In P. M. Pedersen, B. J. Ruihley, & B. Li (Eds.), Sport and the Pandemic: Perspectives on Covid-19’s Impact on the Sports Industry (pp. 7-14). London: Routledge.
• Ferguson, T. & Davis III, C. (2019). Protest politics and organized resistance in intercollegiate athletics. In Morgan, D. & Davis III, C. (Eds.), Student Activism, Politics, and Campus Climate in Higher Education.

Bio

Dr. Tomika Latrese Ferguson is the interim assistant dean for student affairs and inclusive excellence and an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously, Dr. Ferguson served as the director of noncredit programs and community partnerships in Outreach & Engagement and an instructor for the College of Education at James Madison University.

Dr. Ferguson’s research centers on the intersection of race, gender, sport, and educational equity. A majority of her work examines the experiences of Black girls and women in secondary and post-secondary education spaces. Additionally, she explores the influence of inclusion, equity, and antiracist practice within the professional development of K-12, higher education, and nonprofit leaders. Dr. Ferguson is the founder and lead facilitator of the Black Athlete Sister Circle (BASC), a holistic development program for Black women student-athletes in higher education institutions. BASC partnerships include James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, and the College of William and Mary.

Dr. Ferguson is a first-generation college graduate from Appomattox, Virginia. Prior to working at James Madison University, she served as the 21st Century Scholarship Covenant Program coordinator and research assistant at the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University – Bloomington. Dr. Ferguson has professional experiences working in residence life, enrollment management, and with nonprofit organizations such as the College Advising Corps. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia where she was an All-American student-athlete, and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University – Bloomington.

Curriculum Vitae