Terrell's Story

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn is a leading authority in the fields of education,psychology, and leadership, internationally-known for his ground-breaking research and scholarship on sense of belonging. He has authored over 12 books and more than 200 academic publications in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals and volumes, plus dozens of widely-circulated op-Eds, letters, and blogs. He is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, Thrive Global, and leads the “BelongingMatters” blog for Psychology Today. Strayhorn currently serves as Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Union University, where he also works as Director in the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),Associate Provost for Faculty Development, and Principal Investigator ofThe Belonging Lab. He teaches courses, designs curricula, and/or supervises doctoral committees at several universities across the globe. A leading DEI expert with subject matter expertise in Lean Six Sigma (blackbelt) and strategic planning, Strayhorn earned a bachelors degree from the University of Virginia (UVA), masters in education from UVA, masters in psychology from Indiana Tech, and doctorate (PhD) from Virginia Tech.Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Dr. Strayhorn hasdedicated his career to working with individuals from diverse, vulnerable,and system-impacted backgrounds. He is a member of Alpha Phi AlphaFraternity, Incorporated and serves on several non-profit boardsincluding Rainbow Labs, Career Analysis Organization of America,Oregon Outreach Inc., and Psychologists of Color, Inc., to name a few.