picture of Sharon Fries-Britt

  • Sharon Fries-Britt
  • Associate Professor; Higher Education
  • Room: 2203 Benjamin
  • Phone: 301-405-0186

Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
Joined faculty in 1995.


Biography

Dr. Fries-Britt currently serves as an Associate Professor in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1998-1999 she was a Visiting Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research and practice in higher education focuses on race, equity and diversity. She is particularly interested in the experiences of high ability Black collegians and their interactions with faculty, peers and the extended Black community. She was a CO-PI on a grant to study race, equity and diversity in the 23 southern and boarder states funded by the Lumina Foundation. She is a consultant and research associate for the National Society of Black Physicists exploring patterns of success. Prior to her academic appointments, she served for nearly ten years as the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Maryland College Park. She has been an independent consultant for more than twenty years and has developed and implemented innovative training programs in the area of racial sensitivity for professional organizations in and outside of higher education. She has served as a consultant on these issues for the Eastern Management Training Center for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management since 1992 and has worked with numerous colleges and universities and national organizations.

Publications
  • Perna, L.W., Fries-Britt, S.L., Gerald, D.S., Milem, J.F., Rowan, H., and (in press, 2007). Under-representation in the academy: A study of race equity in three southern states, Journal of the Professoriate.

  • Fries-Britt, S. L. & Kelly-Turner, B. (2005). Retaining Each Other: Narratives of Two African American Women in the Academy. The Urban Review, 37 (3), 221-242.

  • Fries-Britt, S.L., Lee, Z & Gerald, D. (2005). Clarion Calls for Reform and Change in Postsecondary Education. In A. Harvey-Smith, The Seventh Learning College Principle A Framework for Transformational Change. NASPA. 1-25.

  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (2005). [Review of Book. Mixed raced students in college]. The Review of Higher Education, 28(4), 629-630.

  • Fries-Britt, S. L., (2004). Attracting the best and the brightest: Understanding the challenges and needs of high achieving Black students. In Brown, M.C., & Freeman, K. (Eds.). Black colleges at the millennium: New perspectives on policy and praxis. Stamford, CT: Ablex.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (2002). High Achieving Black Collegians. About Campus Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 3 (July/August). Jossey Bass.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L., & Turner, B., (2002). Uneven Stories: The Experiences of Successful Black Collegians at a Historically Black and a Traditionally White Campus. The Review of Higher Education, 25 (3).


  • Fries-Britt, S.L., Turner, B., (2001). Facing Stereotypes: A Case Study of Black Students on a White Campus. The Journal of College Student Development, Vol. 42, (5)(September/October).


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (2000). Developing Support Networks and Seeking Answers to Questions. In M. García (Ed.) Succeeding in an Academic Career: A Guide for Faculty of Color. Greenwood Publishing Group.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (2000 ). Identity Development of High Ability Black Collegians. In M. Baxter Magolda (ed.) Teaching to Promote Intellectual and Personal maturity: Incorporating students’ Worldviews and Identities into the Learning Process. Jossey-Bass, New Directions in Teaching and Learning.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (1998). Book Review. Leveling the Playing Field: Promoting Academic Success for Students of Color. NASPA Journal, Vol. 35,(3).


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (1998). Moving Beyond Black Achiever Isolation: Experiences of Gifted Black Collegians. Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 69,(5).


  • Fries-Britt, S. L. (1997). Identifying and Supporting Gifted African American Men. New Directions for Student Services, (80). NY: Jossey-Bass.


Research in Progress
  • Fries-Britt, S.L. & Griffin, K. (in preparation). Singing Mozart in Latin: The effects of stereotype threat on high achieving Blacks.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L.(Manuscript in preparation). The Experiences of Black Students at an HBCU: A Case Study.


  • Fries-Britt, S. L. & Kelly-Turner, B. (Manuscript in preparation). Learning Out Loud-Mentoring Narrative of Women of Color.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L & Sedlacek, W. (Manuscript in preparation). Differences in Career Aspirations and Work Habits of High Ability African American, Asians and Whites.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L (Manuscript in preparation). Smart and Black: The intersection of racial and academic identity.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (Manuscript in preparation). All in the Family: Sources of Motivation of High Achieving Blacks.


  • Fries-Britt, S.L. (Manuscript in preparation). Coping Strategies of High Achievers.


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Grants
  • Co-Principal Investigator, Evaluation of Civil Rights Summer Internship Program—Summer program for rising college juniors sponsored by the Harvard Civil Rights Project, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and Citizens’ Commission on civil Rights. Evaluation will determine the impact of this unique internship experience ($4,000). 6/01-present.


  • Funded Research. Diversity Initiative Faculty Support Award. Sponsored by the Office of Human Relations, The University of Maryland, College Park. The award carries a release of a course for Spring 2001.


  • Received a $26,000 grant from the Graduate School, University of Maryland to support research on gifted and talented black students (1996).

Presentations
(*designates referred; +designates invited)
  • *Fries-Britt, S.L., Milem, J.F., Perna, L.W., Williams III, J.B., Rowan, H., Gerald, D.S., and Hutchens, N. (November, 2005). Understanding the Status of Race Equity and Diversity in Public Higher Education in the South: A Multi-Faceted Approach. Research Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Philadelphia, PA.
  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (2002). Leadership Challenge: Communicating Across Cultures. Internal Revenue Service, Seattle Washington.


  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (2002). Retaining Students: New Questions and Fresh Perspectives. National Teleconference, National Resource Center for the First Year Experience, South Carolina.


  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (2002). Diversity and Excellence. Excellence in Government National Conference, Washington D.C.


  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (2002). Leading With Soul. Presentation for the Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration, Bryn Mawr College.


  • *Fries-Britt, S.L. (2001). Singing Mozart in Latin: The effects of stereotype threat on high achieving Blacks. Symposium paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Richmond, Virginia.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (2001). Cultivating Authentic Pathways to Leadership. Twenty Seventh Annual Maryland Student Affairs Conference.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (2000). Embracing Body, Mind and Spirit: A Pathway to a More Authentic Self. Colorado Wyoming Association for Women in Education (CWAWE) Conference.


  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (2000). Bridging the Gap Between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. Presentation for the Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration, Bryn Mawr College.


  • +Fries-Britt, S.L. (1999). Bridging the Gap Between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. Presentation for the Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration, Bryn Mawr College.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1999). Supporting High Ability Minority Students. Prince Georges County School System, PLUMS Program.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1998 & 1999). Cultural Diversity. Keynote Address, Notre Dame University.


  • *Fries-Britt, S. L. (1997). Precollege Family Predictors of Racial Identity in High Ability Blacks: An Exploratory Study. Research paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education, New Mexico.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1997). The Challenge of Diversity. Graduate Research Seminar, Association for the Study of Higher Education, New Mexico.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1997). Scholastic Achievement of African Americans in Higher Education. Harvard Graduate School of Education, Higher Education Week.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1996). Examining and Implementing the Student Learning Imperative: Where do we go from here?. Workshop at The University of Tennessee, Martin.


  • +Fries-Britt, S. L. (1996). The Transformation of Student Affairs in Higher Education. Keynote speech at The American College Personnel Association, Baltimore, Md. March 8.
Professional Service
  • 2002. Editorial Board, Journal of College Student Development.


  • 2001. ASHE, reviewed research papers and served as the discussant.


  • 1997-2001. National Advisory Board, Eric Clearinghouse.


  • 1997-2000. National Task Force for Minority High Achievement, The College Board.


  • 1996. AERA, reviewed research papers for national convention.


  • 1995-1997. Reviewed manuscripts for "On the Campus", Journal of College Student Development.



Honors and Memberships
  • University of Maryland, Woman of Color Award, 1992


  • University of Maryland, Minority Staff Member of the Year, 1991


  • University of Maryland, Associate Staff Outstanding Contributions Award, 1988


  • New Professionals Presenter of the Year Award, MACUHO 1985 Member, Omicron Delta Kappa, selected by students at University of Maryland


  • Member, American College Personnel Association (ACPA)


  • Member, Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)


  • Member, American Association for Higher Education (AAHE)


  • Member, American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
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Courses

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