David Alexander Philoxène

David Alexander Philoxène is an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, affiliated with the International and Multicultural Education (IME) Department and the Center for Humanizing Education and Research (C-HER). He holds a PhD in Social & Cultural Studies of Education from UC Berkeley (2021). His research focuses on critical geographies of race and violence, particularly Black youth's spatial practices of safety in Oakland. Philoxène combines ethnography, youth mapping, and autoethnography to explore educational and community-based counter-spaces.

Education:

• PhD in Social & Cultural Studies of Education, UC Berkeley (2021)
• MEd in Urban Education, UCLA (2006)
• BA in Sociology and African-American Studies, UC Berkeley (2003)

Research Interests: Philoxène investigates how Black youth navigate violence across schools and neighborhoods. His work emphasizes spatial justice, anti-racist pedagogies, and community resilience. He employs critical ethnography to document stories of resistance in marginalized communities.

Awards:

• Gerardo Marín Postdoctoral Fellowship (USF, 2021–22)
• ISSI Graduate Fellowship (UC Berkeley, 2020–22)
• Chancellor’s Fellowship (UC Berkeley, 2012–16)

Advising & Grants: Philoxène has advised multiple programs including the NSF REU Biology Site (2011–2020) and Step to College (2011–2014). Though no specific grants are listed, his work is supported through fellowships and institutional collaborations.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Center for Humanizing Education and Research (C-HER), focusing on transformative educational practices.