David Gillborn

David Gillborn is Emeritus Professor of Critical Race Studies and Founding Director of the Centre for Research in Race & Education (CRRE) at the University of Birmingham, UK. David is best known for his sociological research on racism in educational policy and practice and, in particular, for championing the growth of Critical Race Theory (CRT) internationally. He has authored and edited almost 200 publications, including the books White Lies: Racism, Education and Critical Race Theory (2024), Racism and Education (2008), and Rationing Education (with Deborah Youdell, 2000).

David is founding editor of the peer-reviewed journal ‘Race Ethnicity and Education’, twice winner of the ‘Book of the Year’ award (by the Society for Educational Studies), and recipient of the Derrick Bell Legacy Award (from the Critical Race Studies in Education Association) for career accomplishments that demonstrate ‘personal courage and professional commitment to supporting and advocating race equality in education’.

David is a Laureate of Kappa Delta Pi (an International Honor Society in Education) in recognition of ‘a significant and lasting impact on the profession of education’, and a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) and the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS). Born and raised in Nottingham, in the English midlands, He attended a state comprehensive school and was the first member of his family to remain in education beyond the statutory requirement.