Dr. Mauriell Amechi is a social scientist, professor, consultant, and fierce advocate committed to educational equity, particularly improving postsecondary access and success among historically marginalized student populations. Before joining IWERC, Amechi served on the faculty at Old Dominion University and the University of Redlands, producing policy-relevant research and teaching classes in higher education and student affairs administration.
Amechi’s scholarship centers on higher education policy and research, emphasizing educational equity, access, diversity, social justice, and student success. His early research seeks to influence public policy and practice by documenting the experiences and trajectories of youth and young adults aging out of foster care, emphasizing the resiliency they exercise to overcome adversities. He is also a board member at Foster Progress, a local non-profit organization committed to removing college enrollment and success barriers.
Born and raised in Chicago, the West Side native is a proud alumnus of Chicago Public Schools. Amechi received his B.A. with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and M.A. from Ohio State University. He also holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.