Ivory A. Toldson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivory A. Toldson
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| Born | 1973 (age 51–52) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Louisiana State University Pennsylvania State University Temple University |
| Occupation | academic, author |
| Known for | Counseling Psychology and Educational Research, Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Public Scholarship and "Myth busting" Bad Stats, and Educational Equity and Access |
| Title | Professor |
| Spouse(s) | Marshella Toldson |
| Children | 2 |
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Ivory Achebe Toldson (born 1973) is an American professor, researcher, and author. He works to improve education for everyone, especially for African American students. He is a professor at Howard University and the national director of Education Innovation and Research for the NAACP.
Dr. Toldson is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro Education. This is a respected journal that has been publishing research about Black education since 1932. He once worked for President Barack Obama as the head of a special program for colleges.
He is known for his book, (Bad Stats): Black People Need People Who Believe in Black People Enough Not to Believe Every Bad Thing They Hear about Black People. In this book, he challenges false information and negative ideas about the Black community.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ivory Toldson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family was deeply involved in education and civil rights. His father, Ivory Lee Toldson, was a college professor. His stepfather, Imari Obadele, was also a professor and an advocate for Black nationalist ideas and reparations. His grandfather, John Henry Scott, was a civil rights activist in Louisiana.
Toldson's mother, Johnita Scott, raised him in North Baton Rouge. She ran a daycare center from their home. After graduating from Istrouma High School, Toldson went on to earn several college degrees. He received a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University. He then earned a master's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University.
His early experiences helped shape his views on education and justice. He saw how important it was to support young Black men and improve the school system for them.
A Career in Education and Research
Early Work
Toldson started his teaching career at Southern University. While there, he received a special fellowship from the United States Department of Justice for his research in psychology. He also wrote a novel called Black Sheep: When the American Dream Becomes a Black Man's Nightmare.
Professor and Editor
Later, Toldson became a professor at Howard University. He also worked as a researcher for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. There, he wrote reports about what helps Black male students succeed in school.
Since 2008, he has been the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro Education. This journal publishes important studies about the education of Black people.
Working with the White House
From 2013 to 2016, President Barack Obama appointed Toldson to an important role. He became the executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are schools that were founded to serve African American students. In his role, Toldson helped find ways for the government to support these important schools.
Challenging Myths with Facts
Dr. Toldson is famous for being a "myth buster." He uses data and facts to challenge incorrect statistics about African Americans. He often writes articles for publications like The Root to correct misinformation.
For example, he showed that the popular idea that there are "more Black men in jail than in college" was wrong. He argues that focusing on negative and false stories can cause more harm than good. He believes it is important to look at the real data to understand and solve problems.
His work has been featured on news outlets like NPR and the BBC. He is often asked to check facts for organizations like PolitiFact.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Toldson has received many awards for his work.
- The Washington Post called him a leader who could "navigate the path to the White House."
- Newsweek magazine named him one of "30 leaders in the fight for Black men."
- He was listed in The Root 100, which ranks the most influential African Americans.
- He received the Equity Champion Award from the New York City Department of Education.
- In 2016, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Florida Memorial University.
Personal Life
Ivory Toldson is married to Marshella Toldson. They have a daughter and a son and live in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a service organization that is involved in politics and social issues around the world.
