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Dr. Nicole L. Leach Sankofa

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Educational Psychology

Email: Nicole.Leachsankofa@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Ohio State University, 2014
    Major: Education: Educational Policy & Leadership
    Dissertation: School Community, Peer Bonds, and Perceived Competence
  • MA, Ohio State University, 2012
    Major: Education: Educational Policy & Leadership
    Specialization: Educational Psychology
  • BA, Spelman College, 2009
    Major: Psychology
    Specialization: Women's Studies

Professional Positions

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2019 - Present).
  • Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University. Mississippi State University. (2015 - 2019).

Professional Memberships

  • American Educational Research Association. (2010 - Present).
  • American Psychological Association. (2010 - Present).
  • Mid-South Educational Research Association. (2015 - 2019).
  • Society for the Study of Motivation. (2012 - 2016).

Development Activities

  • Other (Training), Ethics and Standards of Conduct, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (February 1, 2021).
  • Other (Training), Diversity and Inclusion, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (December 20, 2020).
  • Other (Training), Managing Bias for Anti-Bias & Cultural Awareness Program, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (December 20, 2020).
  • Other (Training), Cybersecurity Awareness Training, UNT World Learning. Denton,TX,United States of America. (October 8, 2020).
  • Other (Training), COVID-19 Safety Training Part I, UNT. Denton ,TX,United States of America. (July 4, 2020).
  • Other (Training), COVID-19 Safety Training Part II, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (July 4, 2020).
  • Other (Training), UNT Policies & Title IX: Preventing Discriminiation, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct & Retaliation, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (October 16, 2019).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • EDCI 6280 - Qualitative Research in Education, 6 courses.
  • EDCI 6285 - Qualitative Data Analysis in Education, 6 courses.
  • EPSY 5050 - Foundations of Educational Research Methodology, 4 courses.
  • EPSY 6001 - Action Research and Evaluation, 1 course.
  • EPSY 6020 - Research Methods in Education, 8 courses.
  • EPSY 6030 - Practicum, Field Problem or Internship, 1 course.
  • EPSY 6280 - Qualitative Research in Education, 8 courses.
  • EPSY 6285 - Qualitative Data Analysis in Education, 7 courses.
  • EPSY 6800 - Selected Topics, 1 course.
  • EPSY 6900 - Special Problems, 5 courses.
  • EPSY 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation, 5 courses.

Non-Credit Instruction

  • Other (Special Problems Course), UNT, 1 participants. (August 2021 - December 2021).
  • Other (Special Problems Course), UNT, 1 participants. (January 11, 2021 - May 1, 2021).

Directed Student Learning

  • Dissertation Committee Chair, Educational Psychology. (February 1, 2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Educational Psychology. (August 15, 2024).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Educational Psychology. (August 15, 2024).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Educational Psychology. (August 15, 2024).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (January 15, 2024).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, Educational Psychology. (September 1, 2023).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Are You Sure I'm Supposed to be Here?: A Case Study of Imposter Phenomenon Among Black Women in Educational Leadership Roles," Counseling and Higher Education. (January 28, 2021 - March 2022).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Gray, D.L., Sankofa, N., Johnson, D.W., Wornoff, J.R., Boyle, C., Allen, K. (2023). Standing Out while Fitting In (SOFI): A Counternarrative on Black Males' Strivings for Inclusiveness at a Predominatly Black High School. New Directions in Inclusive Education: Perspectives, Realities, and Research. Springer. https://link.springer.com/gp/book/9789811659072

    • Journal Article

  • Shen, Y., Leach Sankofa, N.L., Mun, R.U. (2024). Enhancing equity in gifted education: A critical content analysis of identifying emergent bilinguals in North Texas. Journal of Advanced Academics.
  • Sankofa, N. (2024). The White Privilege of Self-Determination in Entrepreneurship: How Educational Supports Pipeline White Students into Business Ownership. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.
  • Yough, M., Slaten, C.D., Sankofa, N., Li, J., Anderman, E. (2024). English Language Learner Perceptions of School climate and Teacher-Student Relationships, the Role of Acculturation, and Implications for Achievement. Learning Environments Research. 27 143-160.
  • Sankofa, N.L. (2024). Revisiting a Historic Tool for Modern Social Action Research: Consciousness-Raising as a Method. Action Research.
  • Sankofa, N.L. (2023). Does the ‘Big Tent’ Include Non-Academics?: Social Media Content Creators Conducting Critical Research. 23 (4) 427-444. Qualitative Research Journal.
  • Sankofa, N. (2023). Critical method of document analysis. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 26 (6) 745-757.
  • Sankofa, N. (2023). Participatory thick descriptions: A collaborative and reflective approach. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 20 (1) 100-120. Qualitative Research in Psychology.
  • Leach, N. (2022). Impactful learning environments: A humanistic approach to fostering adolescents' postindustrial social skills. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 62 (3) 377-396. Sage.
  • Sankofa, N. (2022). Transformativist Measurement Development Methodology: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Scale Construction. Journal of Mixed Methods Research. 16 (3) 307-327.
  • Sankofa, N. (2021). Transformative Needs Assessment Methodology: A Mixed Approach for Organizations Serving Marginalized Communities. American Journal of Evaluation. 42 (4) 505-522.
  • Leach, N. (2018). Peer bonds in urban school communities: An exploratory study. Other. 7 (1) 64-86.
  • Chang, Y., Leach, N., Anderman, E.M. (2015). The role of perceived autonomy support in principals' affective organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Other. 18 (2) 315-336.

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Aaron, C. (Author), Sankofa, N.L. (Author), Association for the Study of Higher Education, What’s in It for Me? Navigating Challenges of Community- Based Participatory Research, Las Vegas, NV, United States of America. (2022).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Gray, D.L. (Moderator), Leach Sankofa, N. (Panelist), American Educational Research Association, Inclusive Methodological Approaches for Educational and Psychological Research with Historically Marginalized Groups, Toronto, CA, United States of America. (2019).

    • Paper

  • Aaron, C. (Author), Leach Sankofa, N.L. (Author), American Evaluation Association, Introducing Culturally Responsive Evaluation to Education Doctoral Students, Kansas City, MO, United States of America. (2025).
  • Sankofa, N. (Author), American Educational Research Association, Why We Should Integrate Social Skills Instruction for Community-Based Research in Graduate Coursework, Qualitative Research SIG, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2025).
  • Shen, A. (Author), Leach Sankofa, N.L. (Author), Mun, R.U. (Author), National Association for Gifted Children, A Critical Analysis of Gifted Identification for English Language Learners in North Texas, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2024).
  • Sankofa, N. (Author), American Educational Research Association, Revisiting an Historic Tool of Participatory Action Research: Consciousness-Raising as a Methodology for Transformative Change, Qualitative Research SIG, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America. (2024).
  • Sankofa, N. (Author), American Educational Research Association, Use of Critical Narrative Analysis to Explore White Privilege in Entrepreneurship: How Educational Supports Pipeline White Students into Business Ownership, Qualitative Research SIG, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America. (2024).
  • Sankofa, N. (Author), American Educational Research Association, Transformativist Needs Assessment Methodology: A Mixed Approach for Organizations Serving Marginalized Communities, Division D: Measurement and Research Methodology, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Sankofa, N. (Author & Presenter), American Psychological Association, Transformativist Measurement Development Methodology: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Scale Construction, Division 5: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, Virtual, United States of America. (2020).
  • Chen, X. (Author & Presenter), Leach, N. (Author), American Psychological Association, Using Self-Determination Theory and Engagement Model to Understand Critical Thinking Skills, Chicago, IL, United States of America. (2019).
  • Leach Sankofa, N. (Author & Presenter), American Psychological Association, The Role of Self-Determination in Incarcerated Youth Wellbeing, San Francisco, CA, United States of America. (2018).
  • Leach, N. (Author & Presenter), Mid-South Educational Research Association, The Impact of Self-Determination on Autonomous Parenting and Democratic Civic Engagement in Worker Owners: A Socio-Ecological Approach, Starkville, MS, United States of America. (2017).
  • Leach, N. (Author & Presenter), American Psychological Association, School Community, Peer Bonds, and Perceived Competence, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2016).
  • Leach, N. (Author & Presenter), Beyester Symposium, Worker Cooperatives in Urban Communities of Color: Self-Determination's Impact on Psychological Health, Home Dynamics, and Community Upliftment, Rutgers University, La Jolla, CA, United States of America. (2016).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Fellowship

  • Leach, N. (Principal), "Worker Cooperatives in Urban Communities of Color: Self-Determination’s Impact on Psychological Health, Home Dynamics, and Community Upliftment," sponsored by George S. Pillsbury Foundation, National, $12500 Funded. (2016 - 2018).
  • Leach, N. (Principal), "Women Worker Cooperatives in Morocco: Self-Determination’s Impact on Psychological Health, Parenting, and Political Involvement," sponsored by Hillary Clinton Center for Women's Empowerment, International, $40000 Funded. ( - 2017).
  • Leach, N. (Principal), "Worker Cooperatives in Urban Communities of Color: Self-Determination�s Impact on Psychological Health, Home Dynamics, and Community Upliftment," sponsored by George S. Pillsbury Foundation, National, Funded. (2016 - 2018).
  • Leach, N. (Principal), "Women Worker Cooperatives in Morocco: Self-Determination�s Impact on Psychological Health, Parenting, and Political Involvement," sponsored by Hillary Clinton Center for Women's Empowerment, International, Funded. ( - 2017).

Service

University Service

  • Program Coordinator, Qualitative Research Graduate Academic Certificate. (April 2022 - Present).
  • Member, Faculty Senate. (January 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Search Committee. (October 2020 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Masters Policies Committee. (August 2020 - Present).
  • Member, Faculty Search Committee. (August 2022 - February 2023).
  • Member, Doctoral Student Petition Review Committee. (October 2021 - May 2022).
  • Member, Faculty Search Committee. (August 2021 - March 2022).
  • Member, Faculty Search Committee. (August 2020 - March 2021).
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Committee. (2019 - June 2020).
  • Program Organizer, EPY Undergraduate Research Scholars Honors Program. (2018 - 2019).
  • Member, MSU/Oktibbeha County School District Partnership Steering Committee. (2016 - 2019).
  • Member, Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee. (2015 - 2017).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Educational Psychologist. (2019 - Present).
  • Committee Member, American Psychological Association - Division 15 Educational Psychology. (2017 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, The Educational and Developmental Psychologist. (2016 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, American Educational Research Association - Division D. (April 2019 - April 2023).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, The Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology. (2017 - 2020).
  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, National Science Foundation. (2017).