J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D., is the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education and a tenured full Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) at San Diego State University. According to the Black in the Crimson in Black, Wood is the first and only Distinguished Professor of Black/African American descent in SDSU’s history. He also serves as the Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity to advance outcomes for underserved students of color. Along with Dr. Frank Harris III, Wood developed the concept of Racelighting, a form of racialized gaslighting experienced by people of color in society. Wood's research focuses on racial equity in education, with a specific focus on Black students in early childhood education and in community colleges. He has delivered over 3,000 scholarly professional and conference presentations. He has authored over 180 publications, including more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and 16 books. Wood received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University (ASU). He also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in Black History and Politics from California State University, Sacramento.