Dr. Runell J. King

Dr. Runell J. King is the Vice President of Institutional Research/Effectiveness & Strategic Retention at Wiley University. He specializes in interdisciplinary research focusing on institutional research & effectiveness, educational access, equity, student success, and the nexus of race, gender, and education. His work particularly addresses the experiences of high-achieving African American male student-athletes at predominantly white institutions and emphasizes the needs of racially minoritized, underserved, and system-impacted students in diverse educational settings.

Dr. King utilizes a range of research methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. His recent research delves into the socio-ecological factors affecting college success for impoverished youth, college enrollment barriers for marginalized students, and the promotion of racially equitable and diverse campus environments by institutional leaders. He has authored over 15 publications in esteemed journals such as Urban Education, Teachers College Record, and Journal of College Student Development.

Dr. Runell King holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Mathematics from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA. He furthered his education at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he obtained a Master of Arts in Higher Education/Student Affairs Administration, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Applied Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Research Methods & Applied Statistics.

Prior to his current role, Dr. King held various leadership positions in education, spanning from K-12 to higher education, including Academic Coordinator, Principal, Director of Admissions & Recruitment, and Director of Data, Assessment, & Quality Enhancement Plan at Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA, Associate Vice President of Research & Sponsored Programs, and Vice President of Institutional Research/Effectiveness, & Sponsored Programs at St. Augustine’s University.

Dr. King is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and has earned notable recognitions including 40 under 40 from Dillard University, National Principal Academy Fellow, and Most Outstanding Educator in Urban New Orleans, LA.