ABOUT ME
Dr. Ursula Thomas is currently the Associate Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of Education at Georgia State University-Perimeter College. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Thomas served as the Director of Field Experience and Assessment for Teacher Education at Perimeter College.
She has written and presented extensively. She has nine (9) books published and over 48 publications. Her most recent book is Navigating Black Joy for Black Women Leaders in Higher Education: Spaces for Authentic Freedom (Forthcoming September 2026).
Dr. Thomas also serves as a consultant throughout the country advising districts on diversity and inclusion, teaching and curriculum development in public school settings.
Dr. Thomas’s accreditation experience in early childhood programs and teacher education program development has garnered external funding for her institution and community engagement partners. She possesses national and international accreditation review leadership for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the American Council on Education (ACE).
Dr. Thomas is no stranger to leadership. As a Cole Fellow Awardee and NISOD Faculty Excellence Award recipient, she is active in community philanthropy, service, and leadership. She has served as a Donald H. Wulff Diversity Fellow and GAEYC LFI Fellow. She is currently a LiberatED SEL Fellow. Her research agenda includes early childhood teacher education, diversity, social justice, culturally relevant pedagogy, cultural mediation, multicultural education, gender issues in curriculum and teaching, service learning, technology, and leadership.Dr. Thomas’s accreditation experience in early childhood programs and teacher education program development has garnered external funding for her institution and community engagement partners.
My Leadership Philosophy
I believe transformative leadership requires:
Vision rooted in purpose
Service before status
Courage during uncertainty
Collaboration across differences
Scholarship that informs practice
Joy as a leadership strategy
When these principles guide institutions, meaningful change becomes possible.
Leadership That Transforms Organizations
My leadership experience spans higher education administration, faculty development, accreditation, grant leadership, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and community partnership development.
Throughout my career I have led initiatives that have:
Strengthened institutional effectiveness across multiple campuses
Supported student success initiatives serving more than 18,500 students
Secured and managed federal funding supporting parenting students
Developed faculty leaders and emerging administrators
Advanced accreditation and assessment initiatives
Built sustainable community partnerships
Expanded educational access for underserved populations
My leadership philosophy blends strategic thinking with servant leadership, creating cultures where excellence and belonging coexist.
Conversations That Inspire Action
Every audience deserves more than information. They deserve inspiration, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of possibility.
My presentations combine scholarship, storytelling, and actionable leadership practices that leave audiences prepared to lead meaningful change
Popular Topics
Courageous Academic Leadership
Leading Through Organizational Change
Building Cultures of Belonging
Educational Equity Beyond Compliance
Servant Leadership in Higher Education
Black Women and Authentic Leadership
Faculty Leadership and Organizational Excellence
AI, Ethics, and Student Success
Leadership During Institutional Change
Joy as a Leadership Practice
QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.
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