About Garrard

Dr. Garrard McClendon is a professor of educational leadership at Chicago State University. McClendon holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago, and his research focuses on teachers’ perceptions of language, school administrators' attitudes toward dialect, the acceptance of African American English in the classroom, and skin color bias. McClendon's teaching areas include principal preparation, higher education administration, and doctoral studies.  McClendon earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Valparaiso University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wabash College.   

An Emmy Award-winning producer and talk show host for "The Challenge of Raising Black Boys," his media appearances also include CNN, NBC, WVON, CBS, ABC, WGN, CLTV, and PBS. 

As a creator, McClendon has written the books Ax or Ask? The African American Guide to Better English, Donda's Rules: The Scholarly Works of Dr. Donda West, and President Thug.  He directed the documentary film, Forgiving Cain. 

He lives in Chicago with his family.