Dr. Eboni Wilson grew up in South Central Los Angeles moving from home to home, care-giver to car-giver. He worked to pump gas at the age of six to earn enough money to feed himself. Because there was no guidance or support from his parents and family, Eboni acted out in school from a very early age. He would scratch his face up to “punish” his mother for trying to discipline him, fight random people on the streets, brought a gun to school and even got kicked out of two high schools during first semester of his 9th grade year. These deviant behaviors led to multiple suspensions, special education, virtually no contact with family members and some interactions with law enforcement.

This negative attention got Eboni noticed and because of his size he was encouraged to play football in order to redirect his anger and channel his athletic ability. With football as a tool to help him, and three mentors to guide him, Eboni soon made a change. He concentrated on school, cleaned up his academic and behavioral record, ultimately earning a full football scholarship to Washington State University. Six and half years later Eboni earned his doctorate in Education, writing his ethnographic dissertation on black males visions of their futures, a subject which was dear to his heart.

Since earning his PhD, Dr. Wilson has focused his passion in two areas: education and developing urban student’s self image. His first passion allowed him to move from classroom teacher to mid-level school management to Principal. Dr. Wilson has worked in various schools in the Mid-West and East coast and has proven that he can improve student performance and close the achievement gap. In just two and half years time, while working as a Principal in urban Chicago, Dr. Wilson improved the composite ACT score of 125 students over six points, as they surpassed the national ACT average for African Americans by more than two points.

His second passion has permitted Dr. Wilson the chance to travel the country and speak with youth in detention centers, schools and community centers, using his story as inspiration and motivation. Dr. Wilson has worked with all ages and believes to have touched the lives of thousands of youth. He has also been fortunate enough to work with educators on improving quality instruction in order to advance the academic skills of urban youth. Dr. Wilson lives in the Chicagoland area.