Lauren Simone Blogs

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Olivia John, cofounder of Lauren Simone Publishing House, as she continues to find her voice as a writer and student at North Carolina State University (NC State). Olivia recently wrote an opinion article for The Nubian Message titled “The Death of the Casual Fan.” In the article, Olivia explores the changing nature of fandom and what it means to be a fan in a time when social media, online communities, and the constant flow of content have transformed the way people connect with the things they love. As someone who grew up surrounded by...

We are excited to share some wonderful news surrounding Shades of Excellence: Stories from Scholars of Color. The book continues to create opportunities for conversation, connection, and reflection across higher education. Recently, Shades of Excellence was featured in the Urban Ed 2026 Alumni News from The Graduate Center, CUNY, highlighting alumni Dr. Cindy Bautista-Thomas, Cohort 13, and Dr. Madeline Pérez De Jesús, Cohort 3. The feature recognizes the book as a powerful collection of personal stories and reflections from scholars of color navigating higher education. We are also thrilled to see Shades of Excellence become part of an upcoming Hispanic...

What does Black excellence in education look like? It looks like educators, scholars, leaders, authors, mentors, advocates, and community members using their experiences and their voices to create something bigger than themselves. On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Lauren Simone Publishing House was proud to be represented at LEAD: Voices That Lead—Celebrating Black Excellence in Connecticut Education in East Hartford, Connecticut. The event brought together people committed to recognizing, celebrating, and advancing Black excellence in education such as Senator Anwar Saud, Board of Ed Members: Tyron Harris, Joelle Murchison, and Vanessa Jenkins, and Treasurer Tia Woods.  Representing Shades of Excellence were...

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Shades of Excellence: Stories from Scholars of Color came to Possible Futures in New Haven, Connecticut, for an afternoon of conversation, reflection, and connection. The event featured three contributors to Shades of Excellence: Dr. Latoya Hinds, Rebecca Betancourt, and Dr. John Watts, with Dr. Hinds serving as moderator. Rather than simply talking about the book, the panel invited attendees to think about something deeper: Why do we tell our stories? And what happens when we choose to share them? Dr. Hinds guided the conversation by asking each panelist why they decided to contribute their story...

You are a recently minted graduate and ready to enter the world of academia. You have a couple of interviews lined up and anticipate they will ask you, Do have any questions? How do you know what you don’t know? Listen keenly in the interview and take notes. Once you have heard what they have offered, here’s a practical checklist you could keep on your phone and use during the interview. Technology & Course Management What learning management system do you use—Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or something else? Is there a standard course shell or template I will receive? Could you send...