Talking Policy
Talking Policy in the Queen City 2025
“Generations of Change: School Desegregation and Resegregation”
April 2, 2025
7:00 p.m. with a student poster session and reception with light refreshments at 6:00 p.m.
The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City
320 E. 9th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Open to the public at no charge
For over fifty years, since the US Supreme Court upheld desegregation in a Charlotte-based case against the Board of Education in 1971, the issue of desegregation—and resegregation—has been important to our city. In the 7th Annual Talking Policy in the Queen City; a panel organized by UNC Charlotte’s Public Policy Ph.D. program will share expertise and insights gained from academia, research, and firsthand experience in the Charlotte community. Each panelist will bring a unique perspective, contributing to a comprehensive dialogue that aims to deepen our understanding of complex issues. The Public Policy Ph.D. Program, which has operated for over 20 years, also presents a research poster presentation session to highlight the work of its doctoral students with a light reception.
Highlights:
- Gain insights from the latest research findings and academic perspectives on school desegregation and resegregation.
- Hear firsthand experiences and initiative from community leaders who are active addressing the issue.
- Engage directly with the panelists during the Q&A session.
Moderating this panel will be James Garvin, M.S.
Meet Our Panelists:
James E. “Fergie” Ferguson II, J.D.
James E. “Fergie” Ferguson II J.D., received his J.D. from Columbia University in 1967, after which he joined fellow lawyer Julius Chambers and two others to create North Carolina’s first racially integrated law firm, one of the first in the South. The law firm represented the Swann family in the 1971 case that paved the way for bussing to integrate Charlotte’s schools.
Roslyn Arlin Mickelson, Ph.D.
Roslyn Arlin Mickelson, Ph.D., is Chancellor’s Professor and Professor of Sociology, Public Policy, and Women & Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She taught public high school social studies in Southern California for nine years and earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984. Before joining the UNC Charlotte faculty in 1985, Mickelson completed a postdoctoral fellowship in public policy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Mickelson is an elected Member of the National Academy of Education and an elected Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and the National Educational Policy Center. She has been a Visiting Scholar at Universities in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, and the United States and is an immigrant a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Mickelson’s research examines how the organizational features of educational institutions interact with students’ race, ethnicity, gender, and social class to shape educational opportunities, teaching and learning processes, and PreK-16 student outcomes. Her forthcoming book, The Roots of STEM Success is co-authored with Elizabeth Stearns and Martha Bottia (Oxford University Press, forthcoming in 2026). Mickelson’s previous books include Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. School Desegregation and Resegregation in Charlotte (Harvard Education Press, 2015) and Children on the Streets of the Americas: Globalization, Homelessness, and Education in the U.S., Brazil, and Cuba (Routledge, 2000). She is the author or co-author of over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in sociology, public policy, educational science and political science books or collections.
Thai Bonapart
Thai Bonapart is a first-year student at North Carolina A&T, majoring in Food and Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition. She is passionate about promoting preventive and holistic care, with aspirations to become a physician assistant. Bonapart currently serves as the student director for An American Education, a film for the PBS Bykids Documentary Series. The film explores themes of race and education by highlighting stories that inspire dialogue and change. Thai graduated from West Charlotte High School, the main setting of the film, in 2024. Her father, Thadius Bonapart III, graduated from West Charlotte in 1993.
Daisy Walker, Ed.D.
Daisy Walker, Ed.D., is a dedicated educator, community leader, and advocate with nearly 50 years of service to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She began her career in 1969 as one of the few African-American teachers at Randolph Middle School, teaching eighth-grade English with a firm commitment to discipline and excellence. She later became an assistant principal and principal at multiple schools, including Garinger High and Wilson Middle, where she shaped the lives of countless students.
Even after her official retirement in 2006, Walker remained deeply involved in education. She worked with organizations supporting schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and later served as the coordinator of volunteers for Project LIFT at West Charlotte High School. She also spent 10 years teaching English at Central Piedmont Community College in its high school completion program.
Beyond education, Walker is a respected community leader. She is president of the Charlotte chapter of The Links Incorporated, a national women’s organization, a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and a deacon at Friendship Baptist Church, which she has attended since 1973. A Wilmington native, Walker holds a bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from UNC Charlotte. In 2017, she was named the Charlotte Post Foundation Educator of the Year.
About the Moderator
James T. Garvin, M.S.
James T. Garvin, M.S., is a dedicated educational leader with over three decades of experience in school leadership, instructional excellence, and professional development. As the Executive Director of Educational Leadership Development for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), he leads strategic initiatives that build leadership capacity, enhance student achievement, and drive continuous school improvement.
Throughout his career in CMS, Garvin has served as an Executive Director of Learning Communities, Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher, impacting thousands of students and educators. His leadership in the Northwest and Central 1 Learning Communities led to significant academic gains, including increases in Grade Level Proficiency, College and Career Readiness, and achievement gap reduction. As a principal at Reid Park Academy and Cornelius Elementary, he led schools to sustained academic growth and recognition for excellence.
Garvin holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Johnson C. Smith University. He is also a National Board Certified Teacher in Middle Childhood Generalist.
Register to secure your spot at this insightful panel discussion. Open to the public at no charge, and light refreshments will be provided. Advanced registration is required.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a meaningful conversation about shaping policies that impact our community.
Interested in learning more about the Public Policy PhD program, Join us for a virtual Information Session