Devon Graves Joining College of Education as Assistant Professor of Community College Leadership

Devon Graves will join NC State’s College of Education as an assistant professor of community college leadership beginning Aug. 15, 2023.

Currently, he is an assistant professor in the College of Education, Kinesiology, & Social Work at California State University, Stanislaus. There, he serves in the Department of Advanced Studies in Education where he teaches in the educational leadership doctoral program. He teaches courses in the community college studies specialization and advises doctoral students through the dissertation process. 

“I am excited to partner in the College of Education’s mission to prepare scholar-practitioners who are equity minded and best equipped to serve our region and abroad,” Graves said.

Prior to joining Stan State, Graves served as a Research Fellow at the Success Center for the California Community Colleges. His research focuses on community colleges, financial aid and race and racism. His work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education and he regularly presents at academic conferences. 

In addition to his research, Graves has served on two of California’s higher education governing boards. From 2013-17 he served as a gubernatorial appointee on the California Student Aid Commission, the state agency that administers $2 billion in state financial aid programs. Graves chaired the commissions’ Student Impact committee, which had direct oversight of the Cal Grant, Dream Act and Middle-Class Scholarship programs. In 2017, he was appointed the 44th Student Regent on the University of California Board of Regents. As a regent, Dr. Graves served as the inaugural chair of the Regents’ Special committee on Basic Needs and vice chair of the Regents’ Public Engagement and Development committee.

A proud product of California’s public higher education system, Graves received his bachelor’s from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and master’s and Ph.D. from UCLA.