Deidre L. Wheaton, PhD, Interim Director, School of Lifelong Learning

Deidre L. Wheaton, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Jackson State University.  She currently serves as the Interim Director of the School of Lifelong Learning.  Dr. Wheaton’s research, teaching, and service all come together to reinforce her personal and professional commitment to using research to create increased equity and access to high quality educational experiences for all students—particularly nontraditional adult learners and students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. Her professional concern for educational equity includes research and interventions directed toward broadening participation of minorities in higher education, promoting career advancement and faculty development for women, examining the implications of race and racism in education, and exploring evidence-based strategies for effective teaching, learning, and assessment at minority serving institutions.  Dr. Wheaton holds academic degrees in American Culture with a focus on African Americans and Race in the 20th century (Ph.D. and MA) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; English (MA) from Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; and English with a minor in African World Studies (BA) from Dillard University, New Orleans, LA. 

• Broadening Participation in Higher Education 
• Race and Educational Equity in K-12 Education
• Faculty Development, Scholarly Productivity, and Mentoring
• Teaching, Learning, and Assessment at HBCUs

2017, Certificate of Biblical Ministry, New Orleans Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA

2012, Master of Arts, English, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Program in American Culture University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 

2003, Master of Arts, American Culture, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

2001, Bachelor of Arts, English, Dillard University, New Orleans, LA

Latiker, T., Wheaton, D., Mozee, S., and Camel, D. (2022). School accountability at the intersection of race, poverty, and teacher quality. International Journal of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, 3(9). https://doi.org/10.56734/ijahss.v3n9a2. 

McFarland, S., Wheaton, D., and Lewis, C. (Accepted. 2021). The Business of Assessment: Reframing

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Using the ADDIE Model. Journal of Negro Education.

Wheaton, D. and Moore, L. (2020). Advancing women of color in STEM through meaningful mentoring: Key observations from the Jackson State University ADVANCE institutional transformation project. The Advance Journal, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/ADVJRNL.1.2.5. 

Wheaton, D. & Moore, L. (2019). Creating a multi-institutional writing retreat network: How we did it and why it works. The Journal of Faculty Development, 33(2):97-102. 

Moore, L.A., Kupenda, A. Wheaton, D., Deardorff, M., & Leggette, E. (2019). What we can do now: Addressing intersectionality challenges in work and social structuresŠthe single academic woman of color as an exceptional case. University of Miami Journal of Race and Social Justice Law Review. 9(1): 91-109.

Ke, J. & Wheaton, D. (2019). Proposing an andragogy aligned instructional design to improve persistence and completion of non-traditional adult undergraduates. The Nontrad Journal. 

Lowe, K., Wheaton, D., Qubbah, A., & Moore, L. (2017). Developmental network: The ADVANCE women of color summer writing retreat. The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching. 2(10): 888-892. 

Moore, L. A., Wheaton, D., Kupenda, A. M., Deardorff, M., & Leggette, E. (2016). Transforming climates for the woman of color: Strategic engagement with families and Social Networks of the Married/Partnered Academic Woman of Color. Thurgood Marshall Law Review. 42(1): 17-44. 

Moore, L.A., Wheaton, D., Leggette, E. & Kupenda, A. (2016, November). Building support for faculty women of color in STEM. Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Retrieved from diverseeducation.com/article/89691

Wheaton, D. (2014). Examining What We Think We Know about Race: Teaching Racial Formation 

Theory and “Heart of Darkness” at an HBCU. The Researcher, A Multidisciplinary Journal. 27(1): 1-28. 

Wheaton, D. and Hart, L. (2013). Striking a Balance: Using Critical Andragogy to Improve Writing 

Proficiency among Adult Learners, A Pilot Study. The Delta Journal of Education. 2(1): 42-57.