Joshua P. Cole, Ph.D.
Joshua Cole is a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for Excellence in Education. His inclusive processes for promoting the understanding of differences has helped organizations build stronger and more supportive communities. Joshua’s distinct delivery of diversity exploration activities provides a myriad of self-reflective and relationship-building experiences to bridge economic, social, and cultural gaps between peers. His ability to create a space for people to productively and meaningfully engage in dialogue helps facilitate transformational change. Born in Michigan and growing up in a working-class home, Joshua learned the value of hard work and the need to embrace diversity in order to be successful in a global society. Teaching in rural Michigan, inner-city Detroit, suburban Richmond, as well as internationally in Australia, has equipped him with a local-to-global perspective of people and the communities in where they learn, live, and work. His experience of over 20 years, include roles as history consultant, cultural competency facilitator, and professional development presenter.
Joshua recently served as a principal in Central Virginia. As a principal at a racially and socioeconomically diverse school of 800 students, Joshua led his teachers through innovative efforts of teamwork focused on culturally relevant approaches to learning in order to meet the needs of the entire school community. As a result, the school has been fully accredited due to a positive focus on equity in education with the inclusion of embracing a growth mindset, social emotional learning, and character education. Joshua currently serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Engagement in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to help support urban and historically marginalized schools throughout Virginia.
Joshua is the founder of A New Angle, an educational resource to help equip and empower other leaders with a new perspective on improving school culture. He is also author of The Character Club, a children's book focused on creating equity in education through social emotional learning strategies for students and educators. Joshua enjoys consulting, facilitating, and presenting about leveraging success in schools through creating and sustaining equity in education.
Joshua is married to his wife, Heather, and they have two sons.
Joshua recently served as a principal in Central Virginia. As a principal at a racially and socioeconomically diverse school of 800 students, Joshua led his teachers through innovative efforts of teamwork focused on culturally relevant approaches to learning in order to meet the needs of the entire school community. As a result, the school has been fully accredited due to a positive focus on equity in education with the inclusion of embracing a growth mindset, social emotional learning, and character education. Joshua currently serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Engagement in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to help support urban and historically marginalized schools throughout Virginia.
Joshua is the founder of A New Angle, an educational resource to help equip and empower other leaders with a new perspective on improving school culture. He is also author of The Character Club, a children's book focused on creating equity in education through social emotional learning strategies for students and educators. Joshua enjoys consulting, facilitating, and presenting about leveraging success in schools through creating and sustaining equity in education.
Joshua is married to his wife, Heather, and they have two sons.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University
Dissertation: Richmond Public Schools: Post-Court Mandated School Desegregation (1986-2006)
Internship: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
Master of Education in Administration/Supervision (PreK-12), Wayne State University
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (PreK-6), Central Michigan University
Dissertation: Richmond Public Schools: Post-Court Mandated School Desegregation (1986-2006)
Internship: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
Master of Education in Administration/Supervision (PreK-12), Wayne State University
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (PreK-6), Central Michigan University
