An internationally recognized scholar in academic achievement for minority students, James L. Moore III has accepted an appointment as the College of Education and Human Ecology Distinguished Professor of Urban Education.
Moore focuses in particular on how to ensure success in education and life for African American boys and men.
Intrigued by Moore’s research, Robert "Bob" J. and Missy Weiler of Columbus have made a five-year gift to support his work, particularly in urban education. Moore, who has served on 45 graduate committees, will guide the awarding of Weiler Scholarships to minority undergraduate students and will mentor the recipients.
Moore believes the Weiler gift will increase the opportunity for Ohio State to collaborate with policymakers and others to improve school systems across the United States. "I hope to see a synergy so our expertise in many areas—education, health, nutrition, and housing—can improve the quality of life," he said.
As a professor of counselor education in the Department of Educational Studies, Moore's work has consistently been published in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals and books. He has received numerous prestigious international and national awards, honors, and distinctions and has been invited to present at universities, school systems, and organizations throughout the world.
Moore has secured large grants and contracts from the National Science Foundation, U. S. Department of Education, AT&T Foundation Inc., and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Outstanding administrative success
In addition to his EHE appointment, James is an associate provost in Ohio State's Office of Diversity and Inclusion and director of the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male.
As an associate provost, he secured U.S. Department of Education funding for Upward Bound grants. He also formed the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Scholars Program and improved the effectiveness of the Morrill Scholars Program, one of the nation’s largest diversity scholarship programs.
Moore was selected as one of five Ohio State Big Ten CIC Academic Leadership Program Fellows and is one of two Ohio State University representatives named as American Council on Education Fellows for the 2013-14 academic year.
Under his guidance, the Bell National Resource Center has become a national model for retention. The number of African American undergraduate males who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher at Ohio State rose from 224 in 2006 to 473 in 2012. The retention and graduate rates for African American males have also increased.
The other EHE Distinguished Professors are Michael Battista, David Bloome, and Laura Justice, all in the Department of Teaching and Learning.
