Leslie Ekpe is from Lewisville, TX. She is a second-year doctoral student at Texas Christian University, where she is pursuing her degree in Higher Educational Leadership. Her research studies examine the history, role, and influence of racial disparities within standardized testing. She received her MBA from Sam Houston State University and her MA in Communication Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She currently serves as the graduate assistant in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Her work aims to promote access, foster exposure, engagement, and inclusive opportunities for underrepresented students at the K-12 and post-secondary education levels. Leslie believes that educators can cultivate a learning atmosphere that provides for constructive dialogue from diverse views and experiences; that will encourage discussions around real-world problems that impact students' daily lives.