Lamont A. Flowers

Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership and Executive Director of the Charles H. Houston Center

Office: G-27A Gantt Circle
Phone: 864-656-0315
Email: lflower@clemson.edu
Vita: Click Here
Website: https://lflower.people.clemson.edu/index.html

Educational Background

M.Sw.E., Software Engineering (Master's Degree in Software Engineering)
Auburn University, 2020

M.I.S., Industrial Statistics (Master's Degree in Industrial Statistics)
University of South Carolina, 2011

Ph.D., Higher Education (Doctoral Degree in Higher Education)
University of Iowa, 2000

M.A., Social Studies Education (Master's Degree in Social Studies Education)
University of Iowa, 1998

B.S., Accounting (Bachelor's Degree in Accounting)
Virginia Commonwealth University, 1996

Profile

Lamont A. Flowers is the Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership in the Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development in the College of Education and the Executive Director of the Charles H. Houston Center in the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access at Clemson University. The Charles H. Houston Center supports Clemson's Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access by examining issues impacting institutional and educational outcomes, evaluating precollege and student engagement programs, and assisting in the division's strategic planning process.

From 2000 to 2005, Dr. Flowers was an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at the University of Florida. As a faculty member at the University of Florida, in addition to teaching graduate students pursuing careers as higher education administrators and student affairs professionals, he conducted research to assess the impact of student experiences and institutional attributes on cognitive and psychosocial development. Dr. Flowers also served as a Commissioner on the Board of Commissioners representing South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District from 2016 to 2021 at the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs. This state agency examines issues, conducts research, and disseminates information about economic and social disparities affecting minority populations throughout South Carolina. Dr. Flowers currently serves on the National Science Foundation's Directorate for STEM Education Advisory Committee. The advisory committee analyzes data, information, and issues pertaining to NSF's Directorate for STEM Education and provides recommendations about their plans, policies, and programs. The advisory committee also suggests ideas regarding organizational goals, strategic initiatives, and STEM education outcomes throughout the United States.

Dr. Flowers has authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited more than 100 scholarly publications exploring educational outcomes as well as leadership, diversity, and policy issues in education. His research interests focus on analyzing factors affecting educational and occupational attainment as well as educational leadership issues impacting institutional outcomes in higher education. Dr. Flowers' methodological interests focus on integrating technological and empirical innovations in educational research as well as using software to enhance research, assessment, and training. In this regard, Dr. Flowers' most recent journal article, published in the Communications of the ACM, titled "Testing Educational Digital Games: Diversifying Usability Studies Utilizing Rapid Application Development," highlights ideas about enhancing participation in evaluation research and the STEM workforce. In addition to producing research in journals, Dr. Flowers edited a book titled, Diversity Issues in American Colleges and Universities: Case Studies for Higher Education and Student Affairs Professionals.

Dr. Flowers has received grants to conduct research from the American Educational Research Association, Spencer Foundation, and the Association for Institutional Research. Dr. Flowers currently serves as a co-principal investigator on a research grant awarded by the National Science Foundation titled "Examining the Effects of a STEM Career Readiness Model to Enhance Underrepresented Minority Employment Opportunities" (Award #2205612). The grant project studies the impact of a career development program and examines issues about STEM students' workforce preparation experiences at HBCUs. This sponsored research project aligns with a book Dr. Flowers co-edited titled, Advancing Educational Outcomes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The book integrates educational research regarding factors impacting engagement and retention among HBCU students pursuing STEM degrees.

Dr. Flowers has received several honors, including the National Association for Multicultural Education's Carl A. Grant Multicultural Research Award, the W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award from the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award from the American Educational Research Association. Dr. Flowers received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also received a master's degree in social studies education and a doctoral degree in higher education from the University of Iowa. Additionally, Dr. Flowers received a master's degree in industrial statistics from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Flowers also received a master's degree in software engineering from Auburn University.

Courses Taught

EDL 950: Educational Policy Studies
EDL 965: Higher Education Finance
EDL 977: Diversity Issues in Higher Education
EDL 989: Advanced Seminar in Educational Leadership

Research Interests

Factors affecting educational and occupational attainment
Educational leadership issues impacting institutional outcomes in higher education

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