UNC Charlotte professor Jeffrey Leak’s legacy celebrated 

UNC CHARLOTTE

Jeffrey Leak, a tenured professor at UNC Charlotte and deacon at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, died June 29 at age 57.

UNC Charlotte professor Jeffrey Bernard Leak died June 29 at age 57, but his legacy lives on in the many circles and communities that surrounded him in his last days. 

Hundreds gathered for Mr. Leak’s funeral at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on July 7. A professor of English and Africana studies, he was revered by students and beloved by Friendship’s congregation, where he was a deacon. 

Mr. Leak, a Charlotte native who is survived by his wife Renee and children Jaelyn and Rylan, was recalled as a father figure and mentor who moved mountains in the lives he touched. 

“Leak lectured with the passion and charisma of a minister and instructed with the wisdom and care of a loving parent while inspiring like an icon,” former student L. Monique King said in an interview with Inside UNCC.

Others knew him from playing pick-up basketball on the UNCC campus, while others appreciated his lectures and words of wisdom on life.

“From the classroom to Belk Gym to every corner of campus, he made people feel seen, valued and supported,” the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Science, where Leak worked for over three decades, wrote in a statement. “His kindness, curiosity and unwavering care for students and colleagues built community everywhere he went. His legacy lives on in the students he taught, the programs he shaped, the community he nurtured and the countless people he lifted up along the way.” 

Dean Chris Boyer said Mr. Leak had an “calm” and “unyielding” commitment to the school.

“It is easy to see why he was such a beloved and respected figure across our campus and our city,” Boyer said.

Mr. Leak was a devoted educator who spent years giving back to young scholars after earning a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University in 1990 followed by a master’s from the University of Delaware and a doctorate from Emory University. His teaching career began at the University of Vermont, but his greatest impact was at UNCC, where he joined the faculty in 1998. 

As a tenured professor, Mr. Leak was interim associate dean of the Honors College, director of the Gantt Center and UNC Charlotte’s Center for the Study of the New South, director of the McNair Scholars Program and faculty president. 

In an interview published by the African American Intellectual History Society, Mr. Leak said his time as faculty associate in academic affairs was a springboard into leadership roles at the university. 

“I did not know, in fact I had no inkling at the time, that I would serve as director, but what I’ve learned about leadership is that often the skill set you develop in one setting is transferable to another,” he said.

Mr. Leak’s skills transformed programs across communities, as he chaired the C.W. Kerry Scholarship at Friendship Missionary Baptist and was a fellow for the American Council on Education while mentoring students outside the classroom.

“His life reflected excellence in every sense of the word,” family friend Dr. Sharon Monique shared in a Facebook post. “One of the greatest gifts Jeff gave our family was his time, wisdom, and unwavering belief in us. He walked me through every stage of my rigorous three-year PhD dissertation with patience, encouragement, and brilliance.

… “Jeff never sought recognition for what he did. He simply served. He poured into students, colleagues, church members, family, and friends with grace, humility, and love. His wisdom filled every room, his faith anchored every conversation, and his kindness left an imprint on everyone privileged enough to know him.”

Mr. Leak was an active academic and writer, with three publications: “Visible Man: The Life of Henry Dumas,” “Racial Myths and Masculinity in African American Literature” and “Rac(e)ing to the Right: Selected Essays of George S. Schuyler.” He earned a national literary honor from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for one of his works, which were published by the University of Georgia Press in addition to the University of Tennessee. 

Mr. Leak studied the myth of black intellectual inferiority and published research tied to critically acclaimed Black writers ranging from Henry Dumas to George S. Schuyler.  
UNCC students at UNCC said he actively combatted those stereotypes, providing a support system on campus. 

“Dr. Leak I credit for speaking positivity into my life when I was filled with much doubt. Even though I was a biology major he took the time to work with me on getting into a science program offered at UNCC,” Samuel Hanna wrote. “He did more for my development as a scientist than any of my program professors at that time.

“His efforts gave me the confidence to pursue a career in the sciences. I thanked him many times when I would see him at church throughout the years. I sincerely wish I could thank him one more time.” 



 

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