Kula A. Francis

Kula A. Francis is a tenured Associate Professor of Political Science, and the Interim Director of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of the Virgin Islands.  A native of St. Thomas, Dr. Francis earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences from the University of the Virgin Islands. She also holds a Master of Public Administration, and a PhD in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, from the University of Akron, in Ohio.  She teaches a variety of courses at UVI, including, political science, history, public administration, and the social sciences. Her research interests include Virgin Islands history and culture, social equity, disaster management, Burnout in public agencies, and STEM mentorship. She has published in a number of refereed academic journals, has written many book chapters, and has served as Principal Investigator on Federally and locally funded grants.

Publications

Women of Color and Hair Bias in the Work Environment
Women of Color and Hair Bias in the Work Environment
Kula A. Francis, Anna M. Clarke. © 2024. 295 pages.
Professional women of color identify with various natural, Black hairstyles including braids, dread locs, twists, and other natural coiled styles. Black women who work in...
Mastering Matters of the Mane: A Hair-Tale of a Professional Woman of Color
Mastering Matters of the Mane: A Hair-Tale of a Professional Woman of Color
Kula A. Francis. © 2024. 17 pages.
Women of color have moved into professional roles to become engineers, lawyers, scientists, pilots, politicians, doctors, and professors. Despite the increase of women in...
University Crisis Leadership Through Caring: An Examination of Students' Perceptions in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
University Crisis Leadership Through Caring: An Examination of Students' Perceptions in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Kenny A. Hendrickson, Kula A. Francis. © 2022. 23 pages.
With the steadily increasing occurrence of disasters (natural and man-made), university crisis leadership has become a staple discussion in higher education. This chapter puts...
Reflections on Post-Disaster University Research in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Reflections on Post-Disaster University Research in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Kula A. Francis, Kenny A. Hendrickson. © 2021. 23 pages.
This chapter offered a reflection on a research study conducted at the University of the Virgin Islands, a historically black college and university (HBCU), in the aftermath of...
University Administrators as Caring Academic Leaders in an HBCU Setting: Investigating Student Perceptions
University Administrators as Caring Academic Leaders in an HBCU Setting: Investigating Student Perceptions
Kenny A. Hendrickson, Kula A. Francis. © 2021. 28 pages.
This chapter examines caring university administrative leadership within a bureaucratic reality of authentic university academic caring (AUAC). AUAC is regarded as a...
The Transient State of Habitually Convicted Criminal Offenders
The Transient State of Habitually Convicted Criminal Offenders
Kenny A. Hendrickson, Kula A. Francis. © 2021. 20 pages.
Globally, at least half of the released prisoner population will return to incarceration before the end of their first year in society. Going against generally accepted notions...