Leslie N. Clement

Dr. Leslie N. Clement is a Professor and Director of the University Honors Program at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), located in Charlotte, NC. She holds academic leadership roles including co-chair of the Lyceum Engagement Series and serves as faculty co-advisor for the JCSU-NAACP chapter. Her interdisciplinary work bridges African diasporic studies, world languages education, and critical pedagogies.

Education: Ph.D. in English (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) with concentrations in composition and TESOL; M.A. and B.A. in Spanish from Winthrop University and Spelman College respectively; Graduate Certificate in Africana Studies (UNC Charlotte).

Research focuses on intersections of race, citizenship, AI ethics, and human rights within African and Latine diasporic communities. Notable initiatives include creating JCSU's RHC 130: African Diaspora Seminar and co-founding Undocumented Allies of North Carolina. She is Principal Investigator on a National Humanities Center (NHC) grant to develop an interdisciplinary African Diaspora & AI course across HBCU campuses.

Professional Service: Advisory Board member for NHC's HBCU STEM/Humanities Summer Institute; member of ASALH's Public History subcommittee; former co-chair of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' Equity Committee.