chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
October 02, 2024

Tennessee educator Professor Terrance McNeil named chair of ABA’s Public Education committee

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2024 — Terrance McNeil, Ph.D., assistant professor at Tennessee State University in the College of Education, specializing in Educational Leadership, has been appointed chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of State and Local Government Law Public Education committee. McNeil will serve until August 2025.

McNeil also serves as a Faculty Innovation Fellow at Stanford University where he contributes to transformative educational initiatives at the Hasso Plattner Design School.

With more than 20 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, McNeil is a leader in the education industry with a proven record in program coordination, curriculum development and grant writing.

Recently, he was the coprincipal investigator for a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant focused on enhancing mentorship for underrepresented groups in STEM. He also secured a $3.4 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Education to support the Aspiring Assistant Principal Network.

McNeil’s commitment to educational equity is evident in his work as a White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) ambassador and as a recipient of the Excellence in Innovation and Competitiveness Award. McNeil has also served on the National Science Foundation’s selection committee for the President’s Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, which recognizes outstanding educators in the field.

As an avid advocate for HBCUs, McNeil has helped over 1,500 students secure more than $2 million in scholarships for graduate education. He also has organized educational symposiums and contributed to various committees aimed at enhancing educational access and equity.

His scholarly work includes publications on culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. A member of various professional organizations, McNeil frequently presents at conferences, where he shares his insights on education policy and innovative teaching strategies.

Through his research, mentorship, and leadership initiatives, McNeil continues to make a significant impact on the field of education and champion the cause of equity in learning environments.

McNeil received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in political science and doctorate degree in educational leadership from Florida A&M University. 

The ABA Section of State and Local Government Law is the premier association for lawyers involved in urban, state and local government law and policy. Lawyers in private practice, academia, the judiciary and government turn to the section to access the latest expert information on issues that relate to their practice and share ideas and best practices with colleagues in dealing with government agencies.

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on X (formerly Twitter) @ABANews.