Kofi Lomotey

Interim Executive Director

Kofi Lomotey is the Chancellor John Bardo and Deborah Bardo Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership at Western Carolina University, located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. For more than 50 years -- as a scholar and as a practitioner -- he has focused on the education of Black people.

He has been a founder, teacher, and administrator at three independent African-centered schools. At the higher education level, he has been a university professor, department chair, provost, president, and chancellor.

Kofi’s research interests include urban schools, Black students in preK-12 and higher education, Black principals, and independent African-centered schools.

He has published more than 80 books, refereed journal articles and book chapters. His most recent books are Justice for Black Students: Black Principals Matter, published in 2022, and The Racial Crisis in American Higher Education, Third Edition (co-edited with William A. Smith) in 2023.

He is the senior editor of the second edition of The SAGE Encyclopedia of African American Education, due out in 2027.

Kofi is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). In 2020, he received the Roald F. Campbell Award from the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), an annual award recognizing a senior professor of educational leadership for a lifetime of excellent achievement.

He received the 2025 David G. Imig Distinguished Service Award from The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

Kofi earned a BA degree in economics from Oberlin College, an MEd degree in curriculum & instruction from Cleveland State University, and MA and PhD degrees from Stanford University in educational administration.

Kofi has been married to Aama Nahuja for 49 years. They have a daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren.

Jayson Richardson

Interim Associate Executive Director

Jayson Richardson is a full professor in the Department of Educational Policy, Planning, & Leadership in the School of Education at William & Mary.

His primary research interest explores how school administrators lead deeper learning and innovative learning organizations that prepare future-ready students.

He serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Educational Administration.

Jayson has written or co-authored more than 70 articles published in journals including:

Comparative Education Review, Educational Administration Quarterly, International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, Information Technology for International Development, Journal of International Development, Journal of School Leadership, Review of Policy Research, and The Teacher Educator.

He is a Director of the Center for the Advanced Study in Technology Leadership (CASTLE), the nation’s only center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators.

He also serves as the UCEA Associate Director of Program Centers and has been an active member of UCEA since 2006.

John Yun

Associate Director

John Yun is the Associate Director at UCEA. He brings extensive experience in educational administration and leadership to his role. John is passionate about fostering collaboration and innovation in educational settings. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading, and volunteering in his community.

Jerome Graham

Associate Co-Director

Meet Jerome Graham, a Co-Associate Director for UCEA HQ. Within UCEA, Jerome supports efforts to expand the membership of UCEA and the graduate student development opportunities available to UCEA's next generation of scholars and leaders. Jerome is also an Assistant Professor of K-12 Educational Administration at Michigan State University. His research evaluates the implementation and effects of educational policies and practices that have the potential to make schools more humanizing for Black children. He anchors this work through interdisciplinary, mixed-method scholarship that highlights three areas that would look radically different if policies and practices nurtured (especially Black) students' wellbeing: school climate, school discipline, and mental health. His research draws attention to these areas by: (1) problematizing, analyzing, and documenting the disparities that often make school a 'site of suffering' for Black students and (2) investigating the implementation and effects of policies and practices offering alternatives to current schooling approaches that would center, improve, and affirm wellbeing.

Karl Gildner

Project And Events Manager

Karl Gildner has been the Project and Events Manager for UCEA since 2017. With over 20 years of planning experience, he brings a passion for planning meetings and events. You will often see him standing at the back of a UCEA event, session, or party. When not dominating the UCEA-event landscape, Karl will be suffering through CrossFit workouts, working sporting events for the University of Virginia Athletic Operations, or grilling/smoking different cuts of meat. His favorite entertainment genres are sports, mobster movies, true crime docs, and stand-up comedy specials. When taking it easy, he enjoys putting together 1000-piece puzzles, relaxing by the pool, or vacationing with the fam. Three types of people drive Karl crazy: people who don’t submit their proposal on time, people who don’t complete their reviews on time, and people who are divas. Don’t be one of these and get on his bad side! Seriously though, His commitment to planning excellent events and looking for ways to improve every day is his way of saying thank you to the UCEA Community.

Christine Thelen-Creps

Policy & Outreach Coordinator

As UCEA’s Policy & Outreach Coordinator, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her position. A proud Michigander and graduate of MSU’s Educational Policy PhD program, Chris has dedicated her career to public service. Her work centers on educational policy and leadership, focusing on access and equity issues. In her free time, Chris loves to express her creativity through many different art forms: visual arts, poetry, photography, and fiber arts. On the weekends, you’ll find her tinkering with home improvement projects and cheering on her favorite sports teams. She also enjoys exploring nature through gardening and hiking with her wife, son, and dog. And nerd alert: she’s a HUGE Star Trek fan! Chris believes in the power of education to contribute to a more just, equitable world. Her passion for teamwork, mentorship, and member support make her an integral part of the UCEA HQ Team.

Ruth Norris

Headquarters Coordinator

Meet Ruth, the HQ Office Coordinator at UCEA! With over 15 years of experience in all thing’s office-related, she's the organizational powerhouse behind our smooth operations. Ruth's attention to detail and strong organizational skills keeps our busy work environment running smooth. When she's not conquering deadlines, you'll find Ruth indulging in her passions for cooking and baking. Her culinary skills are legendary among family, friends, and colleagues alike. And speaking of loved ones, spending quality time with her family is at the heart of what fuels her passion for life. Professionalism and dedication are at the core of Ruth's work ethic, making her an invaluable asset to our team. Join us on this inspiring journey as we unlock new levels of productivity and success with Ruth leading the way!

Salih Cevik

Research Associate

Meet Salih Cevik, the Research Associate at UCEA, where the synergy of policy and education ignites his scholarly pursuits. With a rich academic background from his studies at the University of Georgia, Salih has delved deeply into Educational Administration and Policy, further enriched by graduate certificates in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies and Education Law and Policy.
Salih's academic endeavors are fueled by a passion for differentiated instruction, teacher evaluation, and a deep commitment to social justice. With a vision to shape education policy and practice, Salih's work transcends a mere career—it is a quest to forge equitable, innovative, and impactful pathways in teacher policy. Join us as we traverse the educational landscape with Salih, whose dedication to research and policy is crafting a brighter future in the realm of education.

Talgat Bainazarov

Talgat began his journey as an educator, initially drawn to the intricate world of mathematics as a teacher. His fascination with numbers and geometry led him to appreciate the beauty of perfect ratios, eventually transitioning into the role of photographer for the UCEA conventions. However, his true passion lies in school leadership and the ongoing learning of principals. Outside of work, Talgat finds immense joy in sharing the wonders of nature with his family, whether it's through hikes or peaceful stargazing sessions under the night sky. Talgat's strength lies in his ability to comprehend various perspectives and languages. Fluent in five languages, he is now on a quest to master a sixth, fully embracing the transformative power of effective communication and meaningful connections.

Yashi Ye

Meet Yashi Ye, a third-year international Ph.D. student in K–12 Educational Administration at MSU, whose cross-cultural education in China and the U.S. shapes her work at UCEA Headquarters. Entering her fourth year with UCEA Headquarters, Yashi supports social media operations, the LEAPP project, and annual convention preparation. Before her doctoral studies, she worked in private education investment analysis, international exam brand management, secondary English teaching, and an assistant principal role. She continues to advise the board of the multi-school K–12 education group where she previously worked. Beyond her professional work, she enjoys strength training, rock climbing, hosting friends for Friday dinners, and Chinese animation, especially Ling Cage. Guided by “you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,” Yashi embraces each new challenge with curiosity and courage.

Ruth Boamah-Agyekum

Meet Ruth B, an international graduate student from Ghana. As a GA in HQ, she’s mainly involved in Graduate Student Programming like Jackson Scholars Network and, recently, the Policy Team. She’s also engaged in planning activities towards annual conventions. Ruth brings a wealth of experience as a former teacher and school principal, infusing the HQ team her leadership, organization, and support skills. Beyond her dedication to UCEA, Ruth indulges her passions for music, singing, and cooking up delightful Ghanaian dishes. As an avid writer as well, she is currently crafting a fictional novel while exploring newfound thrills like snow tubing. With an insatiable appetite for growth, Ruth remains committed to her work at HQ, always eager to embrace fresh challenges and expand her horizons.

Zhamilya Yessirkepova