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Jennifer Grace

Jennifer Grace, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Program Director of Administration and Supervision,
College of Education

Contact number: 281-283-3523
Email: grace@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou Suite 1111-8

Biography

Dr. Jennifer Grace is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Department of Leadership and Policy Analysis. Guided by the belief that equity in education is both a civil and human right, she is dedicated to preparing future school leaders to advocate for educational equity and take meaningful action to drive transformative change. As the Program Director for the Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration, Dr. Grace oversees program logistics, serves as an academic advisor, and acts as a mentor to graduate students.

With extensive experience in educational leadership, Dr. Grace has led schools in curriculum design, instruction, assessment, district and school strategic planning, community outreach, and program evaluation. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated excellence in both teaching and research while fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and collegial engagement.

Dr. Grace's research focuses on racial equity in education, exploring how policy, practice, and training can address disparities in schools. Her work has been published in leading journals, including The Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, Education, Citizenship, and Social Justice, and Leadership and Policy in Schools. Over the past five years, Dr. Grace has presented at numerous conferences, including those organized by the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, University Council of Educational Administration, American Educational Research Association, Critical Race Studies in Education Association, and the National Association for Multicultural Education. She has also delivered international talks in Portugal and Greece, contributing to the global dialogue on racial equity in education.

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

  • School to Prison Pipeline
  • Race, Racism, and Anti-racism in Education
  • Equity Focused Leadership

Publications

  • Grace, J. (2024). "Resisting Anti-Black Racism in U.S. Schools and Implications for Global Leadership." In George Noblit (Ed.), Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.2018.
  • Grace, J., & Lastrapes, R. E. (2024). What do school administrators think about race? A critical race mixed-method study. Journal of School Leadership, 34(2), 177-201. https://doi.org/10.1177/10526846231194349
  • Grace, J. & Aming-Attai, R. (2023) 'This is so white': examining Black and Brown pre-service teachers' sense of belonging in a predominantly White educator preparation program, Whiteness and Education, DOI: 10.1080/23793406.2023.2277789
  • Simieou, F., Miller, Q., Grace, J., & Decman, J. (2023). "The road less traveled: Why black males choose alternative routes that lead to education." School Leadership Review, 17(2). https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/vol17/iss2/1/ 
  • Decman, J., Grace, J., Simieou, F., &Miller, Q. (2023). Educational accountability and equity: Superintendent perspectives. School Leadership Review, 17(2). https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/vol17/iss2/3/ 
  • Grace, J., (2023). "Not Looking to Blame, Shame or Horrify People": Texas Educational Leaders Reflect on Employing Anti-Racism in Everyday School Leadership. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 1-16 https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2023.2178688 
  • Grace, J., Simieou III, F., Lastrapes, R. E., & Decman, J. (2022). Confronting the racism boogeyman: Educational leaders make meaning of the impact of George Floyd. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, https://doi.org/10.1177/17461979221123014
  • Simieou III, F., Grace, J., Decman, J., & Cothern, T. (2021). "Let's Stay Together": Examining a Grow Your Own Program in an Urban District. International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, 137.
  • Grace, J. (2020). "They are Scared of Me": Black Male Perceptions of Sense of Belonging in US Public Schools. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 15(2), 36-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20355/jcie29402
  • Grace, J. E., & Nelson, S. L. (2019). "Tryin'to Survive": Black Male Students’ Understandings of the Role of Race and Racism in the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 18(4), 664-680. https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2018.1513154

Courses (Current Academic Year)

  • EDLS 7035 Race, Gender, and Ability in Education
  • EDLS 8132 Transition and Change Management
  • ADSU 6533 Appraisal of Teaching
  • ADSU 6438 Trauma Informed School Leadership

Research Projects

  • Racial Equity in School Leadership and Policy
  • HISD Takeover
  • Navigating Autism while Black

Awards and Accomplishments

In recognition of her outstanding teaching and scholarship, Dr. Grace has received several prestigious awards, including:

2025

  • Education Administration Distinguished Alumni, University of New Orleans

2024

  • Texas Research and Scholarship Award, UHCL CFD

2023

  • Reviewer of the Year Award, Journal of Research on Leadership Education
  • Early Career Faculty Award, University of Houston Clear Lake CFD
  • Faculty Advisor of the Year, Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration

2021

  • Jessie B. Vickman Special Teacher Award, NAACP, New Orleans

2016

  • American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Dissertation Award