Khaseem Davis, Ph.D

Dr. Khaseem Davis is a first-generation college graduate originally from Long Island City, New York.  Dr. Davis serves as Executive Director of the Early Identification Program at George Mason University. In this role he provides strategy, leadership, and executes program delivery to over 750 first generation college-bound students and their families throughout seven distinct public-school systems in Northern Virginia, along with 200 EIP alumni at George Mason University. Dr. Davis serves as the co-director for the Youth Research Council, a program rooted in youth participatory action research and co-director for Revolutionizing Research for Social Change Summer Institute, and institute dedicated to employing anti-racist and decolonial research practices in social science research. 

A champion of inclusive excellence, Dr. Davis has worked for organizations that promote equity and access throughout his career. With experience, spanning both higher education and the non-profit sector, Khaseem’s passion has been to help young people recognize and realize their potential, and access opportunities that will positively impact their self-image, educational aspirations, and social mobility.   

Prior to serving as Executive Director, Dr. Davis served as the Coordinator of Student Success at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)- Manassas campus where he provided leadership in areas student life, recruitment of, and advising to first-time to college high school graduates. As a higher education professional Dr. Davis has experience in enrollment management, college access, student success, housing, orientation, and multicultural affairs.  Prior to transitioning to higher education, Dr. Davis held several positions with non-profit organizations based in New London, Connecticut and Buffalo, New York.    

Dr. Davis holds a doctoral degree in Education, with a focus in higher education and education policy from George Mason University. He also holds a Baccalaureate degree in English, and a master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs from The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo).  

Research Interests

• The evolution of the achievement gap in US education 
• Youth leadership and development  
• The role of Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in promoting social and economic mobility for First Generation college students. 
• Policy, educational opportunity, and college access for low-income students of color 
• Providing viable pathways to post-secondary education for formerly incarcerated students 
• Interest convergence and its impact on creating or preventing opportunity for historically underrepresented groups 
• Anti-blackness in education and its impact on students of the African diaspora 
• The residual effects of slavery and colonialism on the psycho-social well-being, self-image, and knowledge creation on minoritized populations 
• The impact of college access and success programs on First-generation college bound students' scholar identity 
• The formation and operationalization of scholar identities for high achieving Black and Latino males who are the first in their families to attend college, and its role in their successful in navigation of PWIs.