Dr. Gyasmine George-Williams (a.k.a. Dr. G, PhD)
Professor. Activist. Sports Justice Alchemist.
Dr. Gyasmine George-Williams is the sports justice alchemist of academia — blending scholarship, soul, and strategy to revolutionize how we understand sport, education, and liberation. As a tenured professor of Race, Sport, and Social Justice at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, she is the visionary creator of SportsCrit™, a groundbreaking pedagogy that merges critical race theory, athlete activism, and intersectional justice to challenge dominant narratives in sport and society.
With over two decades of experience in higher education — spanning roles in athletics, academic affairs, multicultural services, housing, and student development — Dr. G brings both administrative expertise and grassroots energy to her work. She holds a PhD in Higher Education and a Certificate in Strengths-Oriented Leadership from Azusa Pacific University, a Master’s in College Counseling and Student Development, and a PPS Credential in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as the beginning of her career in athletics, working in the Sports Information Office at Cal State Los Angeles.
As a former athlete, coach, mother of two, wife, and a Black woman living with Fibromyalgia, Dr. G infuses her pedagogy with lived experience, healing, and authenticity. Her work lives at the intersections of race, sport, gender, health equity, and activism.
Publications, Models Curated & Research
Her forthcoming book, Teaching the Tough Plays: A SportsCrit™ Pedagogy for Equity in Sports Education, is a game-changing guide for educators, coaches, and activists committed to justice on and off the field. Grounded in critical race theory and lived experience, this book equips readers to reimagine sports as a site of resistance, healing, and transformation.
Dr. George-Williams is also the author of the powerful book Love Is at the Root of Resistance: Strategies of Activism, Advocacy, and Liberation (2021), which introduces her signature frameworks:
- The Activism Growth Model™ — a guide to developing sustainable activist practice
- The Black Athlete Activist Leadership Model™ — a holistic model to support athlete-activists and their ecosystems
She is also the founder and director of the SportsCrit Lab, where she mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research, digital storytelling, media literacy, and qualitative inquiry. Her students lead podcast production, field-based research, digital humanities projects, and critical media analysis — all rooted in social justice.
George-Williams, G. (2025). Activist Tiered Systems of Support (ATSS) framework: An ecosystem of care and well-being for student and athlete activists. Sport Social Work Journal, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.33043/baqy78da
George-Williams, G. (2025). From the Field to the Frontlines: Exploring Activism Through the Lens of The Black Athlete Activist Leadership Model (BAAL). Oxford Intersections: Racism by Context in Sport.
George-Williams, G. (2024). Challenging Norms: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s National Anthem Protest and its Pedagogical Implications. Handbook of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Sport: Student Engagement and Critical Pedagogies Edition.
George-Williams, G. (2024). Illuminating the Field: The Transformative Power of SportCrit in Sports Education in Sport, Higher Education, and Critical Pedagogiesbook series by Routledge. Manuscript submitted for publication.
George-Williams, G., Villa, M., Thomas, J., Jauregui & Johnson, D (2024). Voices of Activism and Transformative Journeys: Students’ Lived Experiences with the Activism Growth Model. The Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship. Manuscript accepted for publication.
Paxton, K. & George-Williams, G. (2025). On Being a Unicorn: Motherhood and Academic Leadership in Navigating Academic Motherhood: The Possibilities of Mentorship for Tenure Earning Faculty. Manuscript submitted for publication by Routledge.
George-Williams, G. (2021). Love is at the Root of Resistance: Strategies of Activism, Advocacy, and Liberation. Seven Ten Legacy LLC.
George-Williams, G. (2019). Love is at the Root of Resistance: Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Lived Experiences of Black College Athlete Activists. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 13898234.
George, G. (2011, February). The NFL and the Rooney Rule. The NFL and African American Coaches: Playing by the rules. Prominence Magazine. 2(3), pp. 49-51
George, G. (2011, June). The Sacrifice for Millions: Football and Concussions. Prominence Magazine. 2(2), pg. 57-59.
Dr. G’s research includes:
- Student activism and liberatory education
- Anti-deficit counseling practices for students of color
- Health equity for Black women with chronic illness (particularly fibromyalgia)
- Critical race theory applications in sport and higher education
Leadership & Public Scholarship
Dr. G is the host of the SportsCrit Lab Podcast (launching April 21, 2025) and CEO of 7Ten Legacy™, a consulting and publishing platform rooted in Black wellness, education, and advocacy. She also serves on the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) Faculty in Interest Needs Committee. She is a founding board member of the Coalition for the Diaspora for Black Student-Athletes (CADSA).
She is a sought-after speaker and presenter, having delivered talks and workshops across the U.S. and internationally — including the Black Student-Athlete Summit, NCORE, NASSS, International Activism Conference, Advancing Women in Leadership, and the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.
The Heart of Her Work
Whether she’s on campus, at a conference, or riding her e-bike with her children in tow, Dr. G is always in motion — organizing brilliance, building liberatory frameworks, and mentoring
disrupt. reframe. rewrite the game. 