Anthony Jack

Anthony Abraham Jack embarked on his academic journey by earning a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies and Religion cum laude from Amherst College. He furthered his education at Harvard University, obtaining an AM and PhD in Sociology in 2016. His early career included a junior fellowship at the Harvard Society of Fellows, after which he transitioned to an assistant professor role at Harvard, demonstrating a clear focus on higher education and its sociological aspects from the outset of his professional life. His work consistently centers on understanding the experiences of lower-income students within elite academic environments.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jack has made significant contributions to the fields of sociology and education. He has held fellowships from the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation, underscoring the recognition of his research potential. In 2015, he was awarded a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, a key milestone for his doctoral research. His work delves into the concept of “doubly disadvantaged” students, those from underserved public high schools, and the “privileged poor,” who attend elite institutions from backgrounds such as boarding schools. His research has appeared in notable publications such as ‘The Common Reader’, ‘Du Bois Review’, ‘Social Problems’, ‘Sociological Forum’, and ‘Sociology of Education’.

A turning point in Dr. Jack’s career was the publication of his widely recognized books, ‘The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students’ in 2019 and ‘Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price’. These works have been featured in prominent media outlets including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and NPR, solidifying his reputation as an expert in educational inequality. In 2020, Muhlenberg College recognized his transformative work with an honorary doctorate. He currently serves as the inaugural Faculty Director of the Newbury Center and Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, continuing his dedication to making higher education more accessible for first-generation students.