Melody M Hawkins

Dr. Melody M. Hawkins is an award-winning educator, author, and educational leader whose work focuses on advancing equity for students in historically underserved communities. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Innovation from an institution recognized for its emphasis on social-emotional learning and whole human development. Hawkins has served as a science instructional expert and consultant, with a particular emphasis on improving access to high-quality science education in urban schools and embedding racial equity and social-emotional and academic development into youth-serving organizations. She is also a guest lecturer for National University.

Hawkins is the author of Black Girl in the Middle: Five Transformative Practices to Make Schools Better for Black Girls, a practitioner-focused guide that draws on research and her classroom experience to help middle school educators build inclusive learning environments and address systemic barriers facing Black girls. Her work and public speaking frequently center on belonging, social-emotional and academic development (SEAD), and the ways schools can confront bias and better support the confidence, leadership, and holistic well-being of Black girls.