Understanding Education as a Career Choice for NC Research Triangle Men
Project Overview
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation to fund a research initiative aimed at addressing the factors influencing the choices North Carolina Research Triangle men make when pursuing education degrees and careers.
Led by Dr. Tryan L. McMickens, interim associate dean of the School of Education and professor of higher education, and Dr. Jim C. Harper II, professor of history and interim associate provost and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the two-year study also examines 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.
Research Team
Faculty collaborators include Dr. Jayla Moody Marshall, assistant professor, interim program coordinator, Higher Education Administration (HEA), Counseling and Higher Education, and Dr. Regina Gavin Williams, licensed clinical mental health counselor, qualified supervisor, and counselor educator.
Other contributors include NCCU graduate students from the higher education administration and history graduate programs: Zaida Walker, Michael Terrell, Jamie Barnett, Kaitlyn Turner, Titilayo Somorin, Summer Brown, Jardearia McLean and Kamaiya Scott.
Titled "Understanding Education as a Career Choice for NC Research Triangle Men," the project supports a research team composed of faculty, graduate students from the higher education administration and history programs, and a project manager.
About the Principal Investigators
Dr. 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."
Dr. 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."
Research, Scholarship and Engagement
The research initiative has contributed to scholarship examining men’s pathways into education, including "Understanding Education as a Career Choice for Men: Critical Insights from a Study of North Carolina Research Triangle Youth" by Tryan L. McMickens, Jim C. Harper II, Regina Gavin Williams and Jayla Moody Marshall.
2026 Conference
The Understanding Education as a Career Choice for NC Research Triangle Men Conference will bring together researchers, educators, students, practitioners and community leaders for two days of conversation examining men’s pathways into education.
The conference will be held September 28–29, 2026, at the NCCU Student Center in Durham, North Carolina.
Learn More About the 2026 Conference
Project Support
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.
The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Foundation exists to provide philanthropic support for the initiatives of ACPA College Student Educators International that generate and disseminate research and scholarship about college students and further the professional development of student affairs and student service professionals.
Completed Research Reports
Career Choice Report (Text-Only)
Program Contacts
Dr. Tryan L. McMickens
Professor of Higher Education and Interim Associate Dean of the School of Education
[email protected]
Dr. Jim C. Harper, II
Professor of History and Interim Associate Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
[email protected]