Donna Ford

Donna Y. Ford, Ph.D., is Professor of Education and Human Development at The Ohio State University. Previously she was a professor of special education at Vanderbilt University and an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Virginia. She was also a researcher with the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented and taught at the University of Kentucky.

Professor Ford earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Education (educational psychology) (1991), Masters of Education degree (counseling) (1988), and Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and Spanish (1984) from Cleveland State University.

Professor Ford conducts research primarily in gifted education and multicultural/urban education. Specifically, her work focuses on: (1) recruiting and retaining culturally diverse students in gifted education; (2) multicultural and urban education; (3) minority student achievement and underachievement; and (4) family involvement. She consults with school districts, educational, and legal organizations in the areas of gifted education, Advanced Placement, and multicultural/urban education.