Biography

Dr. Freeman’s research interests include the motivation and achievement of African American children and adolescents; the production of African American science and mathematics teachers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; social cognition; culturally responsive pedagogy; and research methods. Dr. Freeman’s research studies utilize various mixed-methods, including secondary data analysis, survey research, and qualitative approaches such as observations, interviews and case studies. Dr. Freeman’s publications include an article on the meaning of “acting Black” among African American adolescents published in Culture and Psychology; a co-edited special issue of the Journal of Negro Education entitled “Learning Communities and the Higher Education of African Americans;” a book chapter, “Hip Hop Music in the Classroom: A Motivational Tool for African American Student Success in School?”; a book chapter on high school policies affecting African American students; a book chapter on the achievement motivation of African American adolescents; an article in a special issue of Educational Psychologist on schooling and student well-being.Dr. Freeman received the Emerging Scholar Award from the Howard University Faculty Senate. Dr. Freeman sits on several of Howard University’s policy committees, in addition to her being a highly regarded member of the American Educational Research Association, Spencer Foundation Fellows, and other advisory boards and professional braintrusts. She has received more than $2 million in extramural funding in support of her work, including an HBCU-UP Broadening Participation Research Grant from the National Science Foundation to study what works in producing science and mathematics teachers at HBCUs.