Rashid Faisal Named Department Chair for Davenport University’s College of Urban Education

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Rashid Faisal headshot
Courtesy of Rashid Faisal

Davenport University in Grand Rapids has named Rashid Faisal associate professor and department chair for its College of Urban Education.

Faisal will be spearheading Davenport’s graduate program offerings that provide elementary and secondary teachers and administrators with culturally responsive teaching and leadership skills to empower them and their students intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

“Faisal was chosen based on his extensive experience and devotion to curriculum development, teacher leadership training and professional development, culturally responsive teaching, and leadership,” says Susan Gunn, dean of the College of Urban Education at Davenport. “His extensive PreK-16 experiences have equipped him with the knowledge, skills, competencies, and mindset to serve as a change agent in urban school settings.”

He also will lead the university’s efforts to build a diverse teacher pipeline to address the shortage of diverse male teachers in pre-K-12 settings.

A graduate of urban schools in the Detroit area, Faisal has committed himself to creating pathways to post-secondary success for students of color, first-generation college students, and students from underserved communities.

Before joining Davenport, he served as an instructor and principal-internship supervisor for the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at the University of Michigan — Dearborn. He also worked as principal-internship coach at Teachers College of Columbia University.

He holds a bachelor’s degree and a teacher certification from Madonna University, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies, a second master’s degree from Teachers College of Columbia University, and a doctorate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.