BIOGRAPHY

A native of North Carolina, Dr. Hairston is a first-generation college graduate whose journey embodies his belief in education as a tool for transformation. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Greensboro College, where he also served as class president, followed by advanced degrees including:

• Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration – Liberty University

• Ed.S. in K-12 Leadership – Liberty University

• M.S. in Leadership for Higher Education – Capella University

• Graduate Teaching Certificate – Appalachian State University

• MPA (in progress) – UNC Chapel Hill

Beyond academia, Dr. Hairston is a national award-winning mental health advocate, having served four years as Board Chair for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s North Carolina Chapter. He also leads philanthropic efforts such as the Kimberly Lanar White Memorial Scholarship and Dr. H. & Friends, blending community engagement with a passion for mentorship and leadership development. 

His professional identity is as much about scholarship as it is about style—known for his bold fashion sense, luxury lifestyle branding, and an unapologetic commitment to being, as colleagues often say, the “male version of Miranda Priestly.”