Vida L. Avery, PhD is an author, researcher, and instructor, who loves reading, traveling, history, movies and jazz! Her professional career spans over 20 years in education, with 10 years in the nonprofit sector, having been a teacher, adjunct professor, program officer at a foundation and a grant writer. She holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies, with a major in Higher Education and a concentration in Philanthropy from Georgia State University, a MEd and EdS in Education from Brenau University, and a BA in Economics, with a concentration in Business Administration from Spelman College. She lives in Houston, Texas, is a resource development specialist at the Center for Grants Development, Harris County Department of Education, and teaches classes at Rice University, The Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.Award: Philanthropy in Black Higher Education: A Fateful Hour in Creating the Atlanta University System was chosen as the Outstanding Publication winner for the 2014 CASE John Grenzebach Award for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy for Educational Advancement.