Donna Y. Ford, PhD, is Professor of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University. Professor Ford holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Education (educational psychology) (1991), a Masters of Education degree (counseling) (1988), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and Spanish (1984) from Cleveland State University. Dr. Ford is co-founder of the Scholar Identity Institute for Black Males(TM), and creator of The Female Achievement Model of Excellence (FAME). She is a two-time board member of the National Association for Gifted Children.