Dr. Eric Mayes is a nationally recognized executive leader focused on building and scaling systems that strengthen institutions and expand opportunity across higher education and the public sector. His work centers on aligning strategy, governance, and execution to drive measurable student outcomes.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Umoja Community Education Foundation, Dr. Mayes leads a multi-state network of programs serving more than 16,000 students annually across over 80 college campuses. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its reach, strengthened its institutional partnerships, and advanced a nationally recognized model for student success and culturally grounded education.
Dr. Mayes operates at the intersection of organizational leadership and human development, drawing on his training as an educational psychologist to inform how institutions design environments that shape performance, persistence, and long-term outcomes. His work emphasizes the role of culture, systems, and leadership in producing sustainable change at scale.
His leadership perspective is informed by experience across both higher education and athletics. As a former Division I student-athlete at the University of Michigan, he advanced from walk-on to team captain of a national championship football team. He later served as a college football coach at Johns Hopkins University, contributing to conference championships during back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. These experiences continue to inform his approach to leadership, accountability, and high-performing teams.
A lifelong educator, Dr. Mayes has served on faculty at multiple institutions, including the University of Arkansas, Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Howard University, and Johns Hopkins University. His work has extended internationally across Europe, Africa, and Brazil, contributing to a global perspective on leadership and institutional development.
Dr. Mayes holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Howard University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His work and leadership have been featured in national media outlets including The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, The Los Angeles Times, The Detroit Free Press, and ESPN.
In addition to his executive leadership, Dr. Mayes is a sought-after speaker on systems leadership, institutional transformation, and student success. He works with boards, executives, and organizations to translate vision into execution and to build systems that deliver measurable impact at scale.