About Thomn

Thomn Bell, Ph.D.

My name is Thomn, and I am the creator of this project and creator/co-host of the podcast "whiteness in America". I have been working in the field of Education for the past 16 plus years. As a critical scholar practitioner, I am committed to work that focuses on equity and justice, more specifically work that addresses, disrupts, and dismantles whiteness and white supremacy.

In 2019 I earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and in 2006 a Masters of Science in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Colorado State University. I earned Bachelor of Science in Social Studies from Grand Valley State University in 2004. 

In June of 2021 I began working for the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion. From 2016 until May of 2021, I worked at the University of Michigan-Flint as the Director of the Center for Educator Preparation and Chair of the Education Unit.  In Fall of 2020 my role expanded and I began working as the Managing Director of the newly formed Urban Institute for Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice. Prior to working at the University of Michigan-Flint, I was an Assistant Professor and Director of Accreditation at Madonna University while also working as the Co-Director of the Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate program.  I also worked for the Michigan Department of Education as a Higher Education Consultant for five years.

My research interests include whiteness, white supremacy, and racism in the context of education systems and the greater educational project. I have served as a consultant to institutions of higher education, as well as public and charter schools on issues of leadership, whiteness, white supremacy, and racism.

In addition to my work and research, I really enjoy spending time with my family. I have an amazing partner and three amazing kids that make me want to be a better person every day.

PUBLICATIONS

Bell III, T. (2019) Portaits of whiteness: Examining Fragility and the practices that perpetuate and disrupt whiteness among white pre-service teachers. Doctoral Degree, Colorado State University. https://mountainscholar.org/bitstream/handle/10217/197271/BellIII_colostate_0053A_15492.pdf?sequence=1

Bell III, T. (2020). A portrait of whiteness: The miseducation of Karen. Perspectives on Critical Issues in Education, 20(3). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TIlCqt8u1G6D-IjCvzQPuoxl8WsGlbAh/view