AB History/Government and Law, Lafayette College

MA American History, University of Delaware

MSL Jurisprudence, University of Pittsburgh Barco School of Law

Ed.D. Higher Education Leadership, Northeastern University

Dr. Michael Sparrow has served in faculty and higher education administration for more than a decade and a half and is currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy at Morgan State University. Dr. Sparrow got his start in higher education in classrooms around the Philadelphia area, teaching history courses at the University of Delaware, Rowan University, and Montgomery County Community College. Mike later transitioned into administration, starting as the Student-Veteran Services Coordinator at Ocean County College. Following OCC, Mike served as the Director of the Academic Success Center at Immaculata University. Eager to return to his community college roots, Mike accepted a position at Northampton Community College, first as the Director of the Learning Center and then as the Associate Dean of Academic Success. Mike concluded his administrative career at NCC as the Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention before transitioning to tenure-track faculty, first in the Community College Leadership Ed.D. program at New Jersey City University and presently at Morgan State University. Dr. Sparrow’s research interests include academic success initiatives, student learning, student onboarding/orientation, student-veterans, and enrollment/retention strategies, and he has published articles and presented at numerous regional and national conferences on many of these topics. Before his career in higher education, Mike served eight years in the United States Navy and completed two combat deployments as a member of Strike Fighter Squadron 151 onboard the USS Constellation. Dr. Sparrow is a product of a community college himself, starting his studies at Northampton Community College before graduating summa cum laude with an A.B. in history and government and law from Lafayette College. Mike also holds a M.A. in American History from the University of Delaware, a M.S.L. in Legal Studies from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Northeastern University.

Research Interests

Dr. Sparrow’s research focuses on academic success initiatives, student learning, student onboarding/orientation, student-veterans, and enrollment/retention strategies.

Selected Publications

Sparrow, M. (2023) “Collaborations Between Enrollment Services and Academic Affairs to Maximize Community College Enrollments” College and University Journal

 Braxton, J., Harrington, C., Lyken-Segosebe, D., & Sparrow, M. (2023) “Clarity or Continuing Ambiguity Regarding the Tenure and Promotion Process in Community Colleges” Journal of Higher Education Management

 Falco, J. & Sparrow, M. (2023) “LGBTQ Community College Students’ Decreased Sense of Belonging” New York Journal of Student Affairs

 Hammond, R., Sparrow, M., Harrington, C., & Melendez, J. (2023) “Using a Stereotype Threat Intervention to Improve Placement Test Scores at a Community College” Journal of Applied Research in Community Colleges

 Sparrow, M. (2022) “Supporting Adult Community College Students with Improved Enrollment Practices” College and University Journal