Jayla Moody Marshall, Ph.D., assistant professor of higher education in North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) School of Education, has been selected as one of just eight faculty members nationwide for the NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education 2026–27 Emerging Faculty Leader Academy.
A faculty member in NCCU’s higher education administration program, Marshall will represent the university as part of NASPA Region III. She will attend the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, where she will present a scholarly paper alongside one of her higher education administration students, highlighting NCCU’s commitment to faculty-student scholarship and leadership development.
Marshall’s scholarship centers on purpose development among marginalized college students, examining how institutional structures shape students’ experiences and influence their ability to thrive during and beyond college. Through critical qualitative inquiry, she explores how care, joy and community serve as tools for transformation in higher education. A trained storyteller, Marshall writes at the intersection of justice and transformative practice to create higher education environments where students are seen, valued and empowered.
She holds a doctorate in educational leadership, policy and human development from North Carolina State University; master’s degree in communications from Georgia State University; and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and global development studies from Mercer University.
The NASPA Emerging Faculty Leader Academy is a highly competitive, yearlong program designed to prepare the next generation of faculty leaders. Participants engage in virtual and in-person professional development focused on innovative teaching, curriculum design, tenure and performance navigation and leadership within professional associations.
Academy fellows are expected to clarify their leadership identity, develop actionable plans for faculty career success, expand national networks for collaboration and deepen their engagement with NASPA’s mission.