Derrick Drakeford, Ph.D., Principal Investigator at PurposeU

Dr. Derrick Drakeford is a Social Entrepreneur. Derrick started his business from the unemployment line in 2002.  Derrick is CEO of Drakeford, Scott, and Associates LLC. a  community-minded consulting firm, and President of Purpose University (www.learnpurpose.org). Derrick has served as a faculty member of North Carolina Central University in the Masters in Public Administration Program,  an instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Director of Freshman Studies at Shaw University. Derrick has consulted with nonprofit organizations, schools, businesses, and churches for 22 years. Derrick has a Ph.D. from UNC Chapel Hill his doctoral reseach was on success factors of college presidents.

Derricm has a BS in Political Science from Bethune-Cookman University; a Masters in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina's School of Government; a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from UNC's School of Social Work; a Certificate in Proposal Writing and Fundraising for Nonprofits from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Derrick's publications include:

1)Finding Your Purpose in 15 Minutes,

2) Fundraising for Nonprofits

3) Starting Your Business from the Unemployment Line,

4) Jada Goes to Pre-School: A Book on Transitions,

5) P5: The Five Secrets to Successful Grant and Bid Proposals,

6) The 2 Laws of Standardized Testing, and

7) Inclusion:The Art of Story-Listening