A $500,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation will fund a North Carolina Central University (NCCU) research initiative aimed at addressing barriers to career pathways for young men in North Carolina's Research Triangle region.
Led by Tryan McMickens, Ed.D., professor of higher education and coordinator of NCCU’s higher education administration program, and Jim Harper II, Ph.D., professor of history and associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the two-year study will examine the challenges faced by ‘opportunity youth,’ referring to young men, ages 18 to 24, who are disconnected from education or employment.
Despite national progress in access to education, many young men furthest from opportunity continue to face systemic obstacles, contributing to high dropout rates and limited postsecondary success. The research aims to identify solutions through research-based interventions, community engagement and policy recommendations.
“I am thrilled that the Walton Foundation has chosen to invest in NCCU faculty to advance research on postsecondary attainment among boys and young men,” said Ontario Wooden, Ph.D., NCCU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This support highlights the importance of this critical area and empowers our faculty to deliver meaningful, evidence-based results. I eagerly anticipate the insights and impact this work will bring.”
Titled “Understanding Education as a Career Choice for NC Research Triangle Youth,” the project will support a research team composed of faculty, six graduate students from the higher education administration and history programs, a project manager and a two-day conference planned for 2026.
McMickens’ work centers on higher education access, the experiences of Black male students, college mental health and historically Black colleges and universities. He is the author of “Black Male College Students' Mental Health: Providing Holistic Support in Higher Education.” Harper explores African and African American education and the use of technology to deepen public engagement with history. He is the co-author of “With Faith in God and Heart in Mind: A History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.”
The Walton Family Foundation, led by the descendants of founders Sam and Helen Walton, focuses on creating opportunities in three key areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans along with their communities and investing in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. The foundation also supports projects that reflect the personal interests of individual family members.