College of Education and Human Development

School of Education Professor Erik Hines Co-edits Book on Experiences of Black Male Students in Education

Erik Hines, professor in the Counseling program at George Mason University’s School of Education within the College of Education and Human Development, collaborated with Edward C. Fletcher, Jr., distinguished professor at The Ohio State University, in co-editing a recently published book titled, Black Males in Secondary and Postsecondary Education: Teaching, Mentoring, Advising and Counseling. This book contributes to the existing literature on Black males with a focus on teaching, mentoring, advising, and counseling Black boys and men from preschool to graduate and professional school as well as into their careers. The book also addresses the gap on research around implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black male educational attainment; the increased anti-Black racism around police racial profiling and disciplinary issues in education; and academic and career outcomes of Black males.

In describing why he chose to work on this book, Hines explained, “Dr. Fletcher and I co-edited this book to address the negative outcomes we see far too often from being underrepresented in majors and career fields in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; underrepresented in advanced and accelerated courses (gifted programs, honors, advanced placement) but overrepresented in special education and harsher disciplinary actions as well as having the lowest graduation rates in higher education. This book provides solutions to address these issues and focus on Black males from a strengths-based perspective rather than from a deficit lens.”

“We believe this book is one of the most comprehensive volumes on Black males due to the various topics we address,” Hines continued. “Some of the chapters are working with Black male veterans in postsecondary institutions, advising Black males who are engineering majors, counseling Black male student athletes, and working with Black boys in the subjects of reading and math. We have conceptual and research manuscripts—quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods—that provide best practices, theories/frameworks, and policy recommendations to create sustained success and results for Black men and boys throughout the educational pipeline.”

Hines concluded his remarks emphasizing, “Black males are brilliant, dynamic, and have a wealth of assets that contribute to enhancing our society. This book is a culturally responsive approach to how various stakeholders, including professors, college staff, teachers, school counselors, and administrators, can work with Black males in an effective and impactful way.”

More information about the book is available by clicking here.

To learn more about degree offerings in Mason’s Counseling program, please visit the program website.