Leslie Ekpe, a doctoral student from Lewisville, Texas, is the new president of TCU’s
Graduate Student Senate.
“I was elected by past senators and the past president of GSS,” she said. “I do not take this lightly, as I represent the voices of over 1,000 students with this position.”
Now a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership, Leslie earned three degrees before her Horned Frog journey began: a BS in management from Alabama A&M University, a master’s in communication management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBA from Sam Houston State University. Her personal experiences in the application process sparked the idea for her dissertation, and now she is on track to complete her Ph.D. in May 2023.
Leslie spoke with TCU News about her work in diversity and inclusion, what it means to be the Graduate Senate’s first Black president and her goals — and challenges — ahead.
What brought you to TCU?
I applied to many universities as I embarked on my academic journey. TCU was the one university that gave me a chance to become who I need to be. Many universities claim to look at applicants’ admissions packets holistically. However, this is not always the case. Universities across the nation emphasize the need for high test scores as a foundation on which a student should be admitted. But for years, since its founding, standardized test scores have been utilized to exclude individuals of color and those who are not affluent. So much so that many of the tests were a direct result of the eugenics movement. Thus, my dissertation focuses on the racial disparities within high-stakes standardized testing and how these tests serve as a foundation of exclusion into postsecondary institutions.
How did you get involved with the Graduate Student Senate?
During the 2020-2021 academic year, I served as the chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Senate. In this position, I incorporated ways for TCU graduate students to have a voice and engage in meaningful experiences. Serving in this position allowed me to fully immerse myself in what TCU has to offer and identify ways to close the gap for graduate students to experience a successful tenure while at TCU.
What GSS accomplishments are you most proud of?
We have a heavy emphasis this year on mental health. As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed many of us in unforeseen circumstances in which every day presents a new struggle. Thus, we will continue to allocate resources that will fulfill the needs of ensuring one’s whole self is taken care of.
What does it mean to you to be TCU’s first Black GSS president?
I am incredibly excited to serve as the president, as I am committed to serving my peers and supporting this wonderful community. Although I am thrilled at the opportunity to serve in such a leadership capacity, I think being TCU’s first Black president in 140-plus years reflects the continuous work this university must partake in. I am Black and a woman. These identities continuously shape my lived reality in society and as a graduate student. I bring them with me into every room I enter, every meeting I occupy and every piece of work I publish. With this in mind, being the first Black GSS president means that I will also bring my identities into this role, use them to open doors for students after me and leave those doors open for people who look like me, far after I have graduated. So instead, I pose this question back to you all. TCU, what does it mean that I am your first Black GSS president? I think it means we have work to do.
What are your primary goals as president?
As the GSS president, one of my main goals is to ensure maximum graduate student engagement and representation at all levels of university governance. In many departments, organizations and governance boards, there is the representation of the undergraduate population. But in most circumstances, there is a lack of graduate student representation. In this, I hope to reinstate policies and procedures that would directly correlate to the representation of the graduate student body. We also deserve a seat at the table.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be and how do you plan to overcome it?
Often, at TCU, we discuss students being our most significant constituents of the university, which is true. However, my goal is to ensure we do not forget about graduate students and the critical platform they hold at TCU. My role as the Graduate Student Senate president is to amplify the voices of graduate students. Graduate students make up 15% of the student body at TCU. Therefore, our needs and wants are just as critical to the university’s success as it is for undergraduate students. The GSS acts as a collective voice to support graduate students’ needs and interests by advocating for social solidarity, academic opportunities and equal resource allocation. We also promote a TCU culture that is equitable, diverse, innovative and sustainable.
How did you get involved with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Institutional Equity?
I started my position as a graduate assistant in fall 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Darron Turner (former chief inclusion officer). I had no idea it would take me to where I am now. I have grown immensely as an individual and have had the esteemed pleasure of meeting and working with multiple people within academia and forceful voices of the nation at large.
What do you enjoy most about your work as a graduate assistant?
I have been afforded the opportunity to work in both the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Institutional Equity for going on three years now. I am blessed with the chance to offer the university and community at large opportunities to grow through education, a series of speakers, trainings and many other objectives that provide the community with resources in order to truly become a more inclusive environment.
What are some other campus organizations you’re involved in?
As a professional who has worked and gained experience in different university settings, I know that service is sovereignty. As the graduate assistant in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Institutional Equity at TCU, I gain valuable experiences incorporating DEI practices into my pedagogy as an educator, which ultimately serves humankind. My graduate assistantship has afforded opportunities to serve as the facilitator and curate events for the TCU Horned Frog family and community members. Some examples include facilitating or participating in the inaugural Diversity Day Conference in October 2020, Black History Month keynote speaker Lee Merritt, Welcome Back Faculty, Staff and Students Mixer, Mitigating Unconscious Bias and Interrupting Microaggressions sessions and Illuminating Black Student Voices in the Academy Facebook Live session, as well as serving as the graduate student representative of the DEI community for the university. These experiences have provided opportunities for service at TCU and positioned me to serve in leadership positions at the community and national level.
What are your goals after graduation?
My goal is to gain a tenure track position as a professor in the classroom.
What do you love most about being a Horned Frog?
Being a Horned Frog is special because it affords me the opportunity in the many positions I serve to ultimately be one with the community. I also value TCU’s focus on improving the educational experiences of our student body to assist students in navigating a society marked by cultural diversity. I have devoted my life to service, and I am committed to continuing to create opportunities and access in and outside the academy. That’s what being a Horned Frog means to me.
More about Leslie:
A favorite food: Paella marinara
Favorite spot on campus: Harrison Suite 1800 — surrounded by amazing co-workers
Favorite hangout off campus: Home. I love taking time to myself.
Favorite movie: Safe House
On your playlist: Masego, Sade, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, FKJ, Jill Scott, Van Hunt
Last show you binge watched: Money Heist
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, hanging out with family and friends and volleyball
A professor who has had a meaningful impact on you: Don Mills, distinguished professor of educational leadership
Best TCU memory to date: Passing my qualifying exams to become a doctoral candidate