Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. is Dean & Professor of Education at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. He previously served as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Education (2018-2019), Executive Director of Education Policy & Programs in the Kentucky Education & Workforce Development Cabinet (2016-2018), and as an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky (2009-2019). Prior to assuming positions in higher education and state government, Wayne worked as a public school teacher in Louisiana and North Carolina (2003-2008). He earned a bachelor’s degree at Loyola University New Orleans and a master’s degree at The University of Akron. He completed teacher training at University of New Orleans and earned a PhD in Educational Research & Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University.