James E. Ford, PhD is an award-winning educator, scholar, nonprofit leader, and consultant on issues of equity in education. Dr. Ford is the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED), a North Carolina-based education nonprofit focused on eliminating racial disparities from the education system within the state, from early childhood to post secondary levels. He was included in the Business North Carolina Power List for 2023 & 2024. James was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the North Carolina State Board of Education, and served as a member from 2018-2023. He is also Principal Consultant at Filling the Gap Educational Consultants, LLC., established in 2016 to offer organizations strategic advisement and professional learning facilitation. He is a 2-time TEDx speaker, published columnist, thought-leader on educational equity, and 2014 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. His writings have been featured in Ebony Magazine, ASCD Education Leadership Magazine, EdWeek, and EdPost. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Dr. Ford earned his bachelor's degree in mass communications from Illinois State University (2003), his master's in teaching from Rockford University (2009), and his doctorate in curriculum & instruction with concentration in urban education from UNC Charlotte (2022).