Dr. Jeffrey Leak

Distinguished Faculty Award

As professor of English, director of the American Studies Program and a faculty fellow for the Martin Scholars, Jeffrey Leak has been a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion throughout his career. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership for many years in positions of increasing responsibility across widely divergent areas of UNC Charlotte, ranging from positions focused on research and community engagement to faculty governance to athletics. And in every role, he earns the respect and trust of the people he serves.

Jeff’s students describe him as intriguing and energetic. Since joining UNC Charlotte in 1998, Jeff has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses and his research areas include 20th and 21st Century African American novel, gender and cultural studies and biography. Jeff has authored numerous publications, including “Visible Man: The Life of Henry Dumas” and “Racial Myths and Masculinity in African American Literature.” And most recently, Jeff is among the recipients of a new American Association of University Administrators award for a special issue of the Journal of Higher Education Management that focuses on the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial justice and equity.

Jeff has demonstrated deep diplomacy and an ability to create buy-in among diverse constituencies, garnering him respect from administrators and faculty alike for his contributions to shared governance. His administrative appointments and honors include serving as the faculty athletics representative to the NCAA, chair of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Intercollegiate Athletics, faculty president and director of the UNC Charlotte Center for the Study of the New South.

In 2016, Jeff was one of 25 candidates selected to participate in the inaugural class of the Emerging Leaders Program of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and was named an American Council on Education Fellow for the 2019-20 academic year.
Jeff received a doctorate degree at Emory University, a master’s degree from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University.