BLACK SCHOLARSHIP

As an inaugural fellow at the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice, housed within the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Dr. Xavier Buck played a foundational role in establishing the Center’s mission, infrastructure, and national presence. His work helped shape the Center into a leading platform for research, policy engagement, and cross-sector collaboration within the HBCU community.

Dr. Buck developed a comprehensive research database that elevates scholarship across Historically Black Colleges and Universities, organizing faculty and student research around the Center’s priority areas: technology, health, education, climate, civil rights, and economic advancement. This tool not only increased visibility for HBCU scholarship but also strengthened the Center’s long-term capacity to influence policy discussions and support innovation across Black academic institutions.

As part of the Center’s public engagement efforts, Dr. Buck participated in a panel at its inaugural conference, joining leaders from Gallup and other research institutions to discuss the role of data, equity, and HBCU research in shaping national policy landscapes. He also planned a major convening at Morgan State University, bringing together HBCU students and CBRE to explore economic development pathways, real estate strategy, and community-centered investment models.

Through these contributions, Dr. Buck helped anchor the Center’s early vision—advancing research infrastructure, elevating HBCU scholarship, and creating pathways for students and institutions to participate in transformative economic and policy conversations.

EDUCATION PATHWAYS

As an inaugural Russlynn Ali Fellow at The Education Trust–West, Dr. Xavier Buck played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s newly formed higher education department. His work helped establish Ed Trust–West’s dual enrollment research agenda, positioning the organization as a leading voice in advocating for equitable college access pathways across California.

Dr. Buck led a multi-state research effort examining dual enrollment systems in California, Texas, and New York, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data to identify barriers, opportunities, and scalable models of success. His findings informed the landmark brief, “The Potential for Dual Enrollment in California,” which he presented to policy staff, elected officials, and partner organizations. The report became foundational to Ed Trust–West’s statewide advocacy for more equitable access to college coursework for Black, Latinx, and low-income students.

To support families, districts, and community organizations directly engaged in expanding early college access, Dr. Buck developed a dual enrollment toolkit designed for parents, community organizers, and legislators. The toolkit provided practical steps for forming district–college partnerships, navigating policy requirements, and ensuring students received the support needed to succeed in college-level courses.

In addition to his research and community-facing tools, Dr. Buck helped craft an equity-centered policy agenda that established the strategic direction of Ed Trust–West’s higher education department. His work elevated dual enrollment as a critical lever for racial and economic justice, ensuring that early college pathways became a key component of the organization’s statewide strategy.

digital equity

In 2019, Dr. Xavier Buck served as the Digital Equity Fellow for the City & County of San Francisco, where he designed an innovative digital entrepreneurship program for criminal justice–involved residents and public housing communities. His work focused on bridging the gap between grassroots economic survival strategies and the rapidly evolving demands of the technology sector.

Drawing on extensive interviews with residents, service providers, community-based organizations, unions, and technology companies, Dr. Buck authored a comprehensive report for the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. His recommendations outlined a program that equipped new and longstanding business owners with essential digital skills—paired intentionally with in-demand skills in the tech industry. The goal was simple and urgent: ensure San Francisco residents could earn living wages, build wealth, and participate fully in the city’s economic transformation, whether through entrepreneurship or direct employment in tech.

In 2020, the Digital Entrepreneurship Program was adopted by Salesforce, marking a major milestone in expanding digital access and supporting economic opportunity for system-impacted communities. Dr. Buck continues to advise organizations and municipalities seeking to close the digital divide and develop equitable pathways to economic mobility.

Report Excerpt:

“The key findings from my study are that residents learn digital skills only as they become relevant, they prefer to learn in traditional classrooms or in one-on-one settings rather than online learning, there is a strong desire to learn digital skills to teach others, there is an organic interest in starting online businesses or building online platforms for existing businesses, and many of the soft skills employers are looking for are also entrepreneurial skills. Many of the people I talked to commented on the changing demographics of their neighborhoods, the rapidity of the tech sector, and job exclusion, but they also asserted that they wanted to participate and benefit from that change, so they too, could see real economic advancement.”