Jonathan P. Higgins (They/Them) is an award-winning strategic communications leader, educator, and cultural critic whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, social justice, and youth empowerment. Holding a doctorate in Leadership with a focus on Educational Justice from the University of Redlands, they bring a rare blend of academic rigor and creative vision to their work—designing transformative workshops for educators while advising nonprofit leaders and media leaders. In addition to communications strategy, that produce culturally responsive content that advances equity, belonging, and narrative power in schools and communities.

In 2025, they received the Centennial Excellence Award from the University of Redlands for their contributions as a lecturer in Education. Recently, they were named a Pride Month Honoree by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, recognizing their impact as the inaugural Director of Strategic Communications and Advocacy at Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance (RPYA) in Southern California where they uplift the voices of LGBTQ+ youth.

Their influence extends across the entertainment and media industries, with past roles at Chernin Entertainment and Edith Productions. Additionally, they have consulted on inclusion-driven projects with brands such as United Artists, Amazon, Fox, the NFL, Apple, Disney, Instagram, BuzzFeed, GLAAD, and ULTA Beauty.

A sought-after speaker and thought partner, DoctorJonPaul has presented at more than 100 educational institutions nationwide and written over 250 articles for outlets including Essence, Ebony, Complex, MTV News, Out Magazine, BET, Paper, and Entertainment Weekly. Their voice and expertise have also been featured on stages and screens ranging from TEDx, SXSW, Coachella, Electric Forest to appearances on Netflix, Fuse, ABC, and Hulu.

They are the author of Black Fat Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and How to Love Yourself (Wiley), a critically acclaimed work praised by Out Magazine, The Advocate, Queerty, Native Son, and others for its cultural insight and affirming vision. They are also the creator, executive producer, and host of the Webby-honored, Shorty Award–winning, and two-time Signal Award–winning Black Fat Femme podcast, originally developed through iHeartMedia’s Next Up Initiative. The show has been recognized by Essence, Ebony, and Pride as one of the top Black podcasts to listen to and has been spotlighted by Apple Podcasts.

Across every platform—whether in classrooms, boardrooms, or global media—Higgins is committed to shifting narratives, elevating marginalized voices, and building a more just and imaginative cultural landscape.