Jada Phelps

Jada Phelps is an Assistant Professor of K-12 Educational Administration in the College of Education at Michigan State University (MSU). She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University, Indianapolis. Her research focuses on family engagement, culturally responsive leadership, and equity in education, with an emphasis on intersectional approaches to examining racial inequities and xenophobic climates affecting refugee families. Phelps is affiliated with the Critical Race Studies in Education Association (CRSEA) and the Graduate Student Council for the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). Beyond academia, she is a former NCAA Division-I All-American and Olympic Trial Qualifier in Track and Field.

Phelps’s work critiques systemic racism in educational institutions and explores how leadership practices can either support or hinder marginalized families and communities. She has developed community-based frameworks for educational equity and examined the role of hip-hop pedagogy in addressing systemic barriers. Her research often intersects with urban school challenges and institutional resistance to racial justice initiatives.

Her professional service includes advising on educational equity programs and collaborating with schools to implement race-conscious policies. While no specific grants or labs are detailed in the provided text, her affiliations with national organizations suggest active participation in collaborative research networks.