Leadership
Malik S. Henfield, PhD
Founding Dean and Professor
Dr. Malik S. Henfield is a Full Professor in the School of Education and Founding Dean of the Institute for Racial Justice at Loyola University Chicago. His academic journey began with a B.A. in Biology from Francis Marion University, followed by an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in School Counseling from The University of South Carolina, and culminated in a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University.
In May 2020, as Dean of Loyola's School of Education, Dr. Henfield called upon students, faculty, and administrators to unite in the vital work of antiracist education. By the end of that year, he knew more than a singular approach was needed; thus, he chose to embark on a new path that was not limited to the field of education. Remaining at Loyola, he became the Founding Dean of the Institute for Racial Justice, an inclusive interdisciplinary hub, uniting students, scholars, and community partners in a shared commitment to advancing racial justice through impactful research and program evaluation, transformational education, and relationships built on trust. Here, scholars and strategic partners build profound connections and ignite breakthrough research leading to actionable insights that foster the pursuit of racial justice and equity.
At the heart of Dr. Henfield's scholarship lay a profound exploration of Black students' lived experiences within a broader ecological context. His research critically examines how their personal, social, academic, and career success intersects with school, family, and community dynamics. Celebrated for his academic contributions, Dr. Henfield has clinched the American Education Research Association (AERA) Division E Research Paper of the Year Award, the Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society's Outstanding Article Award, and the Outstanding Research Award from the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES). He has obtained millions in external funding to bolster research endeavors that have created opportunities for numerous faculty, students and community partners to develop valuable insights while pursuing solutions to complex societal problems.
His leadership earned him the title of Emerging Leader by the Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International Education Association and Young Academic Fellow by the Institute for Higher Education and the Lumina Foundation. Additionally, he was Chair of one of AERA's largest Special Interest Groups, the Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in Education (2018-2021). Most recently, he was asked to serve as Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Steering Committee and is a member of the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (SEPLB).
Dr. Malik S. Henfield is a Full Professor in the School of Education and Founding Dean of the Institute for Racial Justice at Loyola University Chicago. His academic journey began with a B.A. in Biology from Francis Marion University, followed by an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in School Counseling from The University of South Carolina, and culminated in a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University.
In May 2020, as Dean of Loyola's School of Education, Dr. Henfield called upon students, faculty, and administrators to unite in the vital work of antiracist education. By the end of that year, he knew more than a singular approach was needed; thus, he chose to embark on a new path that was not limited to the field of education. Remaining at Loyola, he became the Founding Dean of the Institute for Racial Justice, an inclusive interdisciplinary hub, uniting students, scholars, and community partners in a shared commitment to advancing racial justice through impactful research and program evaluation, transformational education, and relationships built on trust. Here, scholars and strategic partners build profound connections and ignite breakthrough research leading to actionable insights that foster the pursuit of racial justice and equity.
At the heart of Dr. Henfield's scholarship lay a profound exploration of Black students' lived experiences within a broader ecological context. His research critically examines how their personal, social, academic, and career success intersects with school, family, and community dynamics. Celebrated for his academic contributions, Dr. Henfield has clinched the American Education Research Association (AERA) Division E Research Paper of the Year Award, the Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society's Outstanding Article Award, and the Outstanding Research Award from the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES). He has obtained millions in external funding to bolster research endeavors that have created opportunities for numerous faculty, students and community partners to develop valuable insights while pursuing solutions to complex societal problems.
His leadership earned him the title of Emerging Leader by the Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International Education Association and Young Academic Fellow by the Institute for Higher Education and the Lumina Foundation. Additionally, he was Chair of one of AERA's largest Special Interest Groups, the Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in Education (2018-2021). Most recently, he was asked to serve as Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Steering Committee and is a member of the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (SEPLB).