Jillian Ford 

Jillian Ford is a Ph.D. candidate in the Division of Educational Studies at Emory University. Her research focuses on political socialization and citizenship education for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and questioning (LGBTQIQ) youth. Jillian believes fiercely in the connection between research and activism, and is dedicated to reforming the k-12 social studies education curriculum in the United States to be more inclusive and progressive. Before returning to graduate school in 2004, Jillian taught 10th grade World History and 11th grade U.S. History at Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia. There, she founded and sponsored the “Know Your History” club, which was a continued project of the “Know Your History” Saturday School she co-founded and co-directed in Charlottesville, Virginia, while a student at the University of Virginia. Both organizations were Afro-centric arenas for student growth.