Ray Ankrum
Associate Professor of Instruction
Department: Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies

Raymond J. Ankrum, Sr., is a distinguished educator with a profound commitment to curriculum, teaching, learning and leadership. His philosophy, encapsulated by the guiding principle "students first," drives his passion for empowering individuals in higher education. Ankrum builds trust and fosters growth by implementing fair disciplinary measures, designing challenges that cultivate self-esteem and critical thinking, and consistently recognizing student achievements. He is also a highly effective leader among colleagues, inspiring creativity and motivating through example.

Ankrum brings a wealth of experience to the academic landscape. In fall 2024, he served as a Fulbright IEA Scholar in the United Kingdom, conducting vital research and fostering collaborations with prominent UK institutions. His impressive career in higher education also includes significant roles at esteemed institutions such as NYU, E-Cornell, American University, Teachers College, Columbia University and Pace University.

Beyond his contributions to higher education, Ankrum has an exceptional record in K-12 administration. Since 2012, he has served as superintendent of K-12 at Riverhead Charter School, a testament to his leadership with three consecutive five-year renewals. He successfully managed significant school expansion and building projects during his tenure. As principal at Harlem Village Academy (2008-2011), Ray achieved remarkable academic outcomes, with 100% of eighth graders passing the NYS Math Exam and 94% passing the NYS ELA Exam. His K-12 leadership also includes roles at Democracy Prep and teaching experience in Baltimore City Public Schools.

Ankrum’s academic foundation is robust, with an EdD from Manhattanville College, an EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Master of Teaching from Morgan State University, among other degrees and certifications. He is also a published author, contributing valuable insights on topics such as the effect of socioeconomic status on teacher/parental communication, teacher leadership, the engagement of Black male principals with Black parents, and critical lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thais Council
Assistant Professor
Department: Teaching and Learning

Thais Council joins Temple University as an assistant professor of Literacy and Urban Education in the College of Education and Human Development. She has extensive experience serving as a literacy advocate, teacher educator, and reading specialist in urban school districts and communities. Her scholarship focuses on race, place and power, and their implications for literacy policy and practice. Council’s interdisciplinary, critical scholarship centers community-engaged and participatory research methods, Black intellectualism, and urban sociology. Her research has been recognized by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and has been published in Educational Studies, the International Journal of Qualitative Research Studies in Education and Multicultural Perspectives, among other venues.

Delishia Pittman
Associate Professor
Department: Psychological Studies in Education

Delishia M. Pittman, PhD, MPH, ABPP, LPC, NCC, ACS, a licensed and board-certified counseling psychologist, has joined the faculty at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development as an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Studies in Education.

Pittman’s scholarly work sits at the intersection of diversity science, psychological science and population health. As a scholar-activist, her research agenda prioritizes the lived experiences of Black communities—particularly Black emerging adults—and seeks to disrupt structural oppression through applied psychological science. She brings extensive expertise in quantitative methods, as well as decolonial and anti-oppressive approaches to training and clinical practice.

Prior to joining Temple, Pittman was a tenured associate professor at The George Washington University. A first-generation college student and committed mentor, she is nationally recognized for her leadership in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in professional psychology. She has held numerous leadership roles, including on the Executive Board of the Society of Counseling Psychology, the Board of Trustees for the American Board of Professional Psychology and the Board of Directors for the American Board of Counseling Psychology.

In addition to her academic work, Pittman is the founder and clinical director of a boutique psychotherapy practice focused on mental wellness for communities of color. She is excited to join the Temple community and contribute to the college’s mission of preparing educators, researchers and clinicians who are agents of change.

Adrianne Robertson
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Department: Psychological Studies in Education

Adrianne Robertson, PhD, LPC, NCC, joins Temple from Rowan University in New Jersey. She is an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Psychological Studies in Education. She brings extensive experience as a former school counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor, focusing on mental health among minoritized populations. Adrianne has worked in diverse settings, including residential and inpatient facilities, middle and high schools, and private practice. Her award-winning dissertation explored how school counselors use social media to advocate for marginalized students. She serves as a co-chair of the School Counseling Interest Network, a part of the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Advocacy Committee of the Counselors for Social Justice Division of ACA.

James Wright
Associate Professor
Department: Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies

James S. Wright, formerly an associate professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University, joins Temple’s College of Education and Human Development as an associate professor of educational leadership. He earned his PhD in K–12 educational administration from Michigan State University and has held teaching and leadership roles in K–12 schools across the U.S. and internationally, including Cairo, Egypt.

A leading scholar in culturally responsive leadership, educational policy and critical ethnic studies, his work appears in top-tier journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Leadership and Policy in Schools, the Journal of Education Policy, and AERA Open. He has contributed extensively to research and leadership development across California, including with the California Department of Education and UC Berkeley’s 21st Century School Leadership Academy. His forthcoming book, Critical Ethnic Studies and the Global Pursuit of Justice, will be published by Teachers College Press in August 2025.