Dr. Joy Gaston Gayles will become head of the NC State College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (ELPHD), effective Jul. 1.
Gayles is currently an Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education and senior adviser for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the College of Education. She was the 2022 President of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).
Her scholarly work involves matters of DEI, justice, women and people of color in STEM, and intercollegiate athletics.
She was recognized as one of 25 innovative women leading higher education in Diverse last year and is the recipient of NC State’s 2020 Chancellor’s Creating Community Award for Outstanding Faculty. She also received NC State’s University Faculty Scholar in 2018 and is the winner of the Zenobia L. Hikes Woman of Color in the Academy Award.
Gayles holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and higher education from The Ohio State University; a Master of Science in higher education administration from Auburn University; and a Bachelor of Science in adapted physical education and kinesiotherapy from Shaw University.