Former All-American Student-Athlete Tomika Ferguson to Give Two Public Lectures on Oct. 1

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Tomika Ferguson, assistant professor in educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, will present two public lectures on Oct. 1 as part of the Department of Health, Human Performance and Research's public lecture series.

"We are so excited to welcome Dr. Ferguson to campus. Dr. Ferguson was an All-American student-athlete at the University of Virginia and is a leading expert on programming and inclusive practices for black female student-athletes," said Sarah Stokowski, assistant professor in recreation and sport management. The lectures are sponsored by the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, the College of Education and Health Professions' Diversity Committee, and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Ferguson will give two lecturers on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Jerry and Gene Jones Family Student-Athlete Success Center (JSAS). The first lecture, titled "Centering Black Women Student-Athletes in Programming" will take place in the multi-purpose room at the Jones Student-Athlete Center from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Her second lecture, "Safe Space and Visibility in the Classroom" will be in the center's auditorium from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Ferguson's research centers on the college experiences of women of color student-athletes. In particular she works with and examines the experiences of black female student-athletes through her Black Athlete Sister Circle program. Additionally, her work explores issues of affordability and retention for low-income and students of color, and the professional development of K-12 and nonprofit leaders around issues of equity and diversity.

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. 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 and her master's and doctoral degrees from Indiana University-Bloomington.