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Our Mission and Impact
A decade of expertise
The mission of the school is to provide a personalized, high quality, and culturally responsive education for Black boys in a residential education setting.
Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate
A decade of expertise
Through our Ubuntu Leadership Institute
Graduation Rate
Empowering success for our students

Creating an environment where students thrive academically and personally

Experienced educators committed to student success

Building tomorrow’s leaders today
Experience our transformative journey through this compelling video.
Resources for Success
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Access scholarships, internships, and academic tools to support your educational journey.

Find guides on supporting your child’s education and development in a culturally affirming environment.

Discover collaboration opportunities and resources for organizations interested in supporting our mission.

Thank You: Your Support Makes a Difference
Thank you for your continued support of The Masters Preparatory Academy and the Ubuntu Leadership Institute. We look forward to building a brighter future together.
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Latest news & insights
January 16, 2025
August 15, 2024
The Team
Connect with Us
Stay connected with MPA and ULI through our website and social media channels.
PO Box 9611
Columbus, OH 43209
Drop us a line anytime!
Career in our company

Crafting a pathway of success through partnership with each young man and his family, drawing upon every resource available to enhance their educational opportunities.
Cultural humility involves an ongoing process of self-exploration and self-critique combined with a willingness to learn from others. It means entering a relationship with another person with the intention of honoring their beliefs, customs, and values. It means acknowledging differences and accepting that person for who they are.
Prioritizing caring and addressing the social, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs of each young man.
Creating an emphasis on growth and awareness to build strong young men with impeccable character.
Founder & CEO
Dr. Robert L. Murphy is the CEO/Founder of The Masters Preparatory Academy (MPA) a proposed single gender boarding school designed to meet the social, emotional, cultural, and academic needs of African American young men, grades 9-12. During his over 40 years in education, he has been a teacher, coach, and mentor and has held leadership roles in parochial, private, and public schools. He currently serves in the superintendent’s office in Columbus City Schools as the district Ombudsman.
Dr. Murphy received his B.A. in Art Education from The Ohio State University, where he was also a member of the OSU football team. He received his M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton and his Ed. D. in Educational Administration from Ohio University. Dr. Murphy’s doctoral research was focused on the impact of single gender schools on the social, emotional, and academic progress of low income African American males. He is deeply committed to expanding the educational opportunities for African American males through the creation and expansion of single gender schools and he continues that work today with the development of The Masters Preparatory Academy. Dr. Murphy’s work with MPA is enhanced by his work with The Ubuntu Leadership Institute, which is a hybrid program for African American high school boys, beginning with an intensive two-week residential program on the Ohio State University campus and continuing throughout the school year with virtual and in person programming. The goal of the program is to enhance the participants’ character development, critical thinking, problem solving, and service to others.
Prior to enrolling at The Ohio State University, Dr. Murphy served in the United States Marine Corps. He completed a tour of duty in Vietnam where was the leader of a combat squad and the recipient of two Purple Hearts as a result of being wounded in action.
Dr. Murphy has been married to his wife Carolyn Murphy for 48 years. They have a son and a daughter and seven grandchildren.
Board Member
James C. Ragland has spent his life fighting to protect and serve the less fortunate. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, he has served the Columbus community as an educator, public servant, school development officer, and advocate for minority and small businesses.
In December 2018, James was appointed to the Columbus City Schools Board of Education.
James currently resides on the east side of Columbus and has two children and two grandchildren.
Co-Founder
Marlissa Hughes Stauffer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education at Ohio Dominican University and currently serves as the Chair of the Division of Education and the program director of the Adolescence to Young Adult Education program.
Dr. Stauffer, a high school teacher for eleven years and a college professor for more than twenty years, has administered multiple grants, and she and her current grant colleagues research how pre-service teachers learn to be more culturally responsive and prepared to teach students in high needs settings. Her great joy is her students and the classroom.
She is honored to be part of the Masters Preparatory Academy team for ten years.
Board Member
James A. White Sr. is an executive coach and management consultant. The owner and president of Performance Consulting Services in Columbus, Ohio, he helps individuals, groups, and organizations recognize their potential, fine-tune their strategic messages and present them effectively.
James White is dedicated to sharing his energy, passion, and insight into how to overcome life’s obstacles with others. As a dyslexic student in the inner city, he dropped out of high school – and after getting his G.E.D., jumpstarted his career by joining the U.S. Air Force. He went on to positions at Xerox, Wang Laboratories and Digital Equipment Corporation and has spent the last 25 years as a consultant and educator. He also aims to share his experiences with racism, in order to stress the message that all races, genders, and backgrounds must come together to challenge the status quo.
Co-Founder
Jasper T. Person III is a man of faith and a Servant-Leader. He is a Coach of Coaches, Executive Leadership Trainer, Solutions Guru, and an avid sports enthusiast.
Person cut his teeth at an early age from the model of his parents, who were dedicated to stewardship and service. He developed a passion for connecting and providing solutions for the community and the world. His life philosophy is for every generation to become pillars for the next by uprooting issues and building a new foundation for the next generation. Person determined that society should always invest in people, not just the systems, for solutions. An academic, Person is the first male in his family to graduate from college. He has multiple degrees and has set a new familial standard.
Person is owner and operator of Tailored Fit Consulting where inspiration, navigation, motivation, and education converge to provide solutions for families, teachers, schools, and communities. Person, the Managing Director of Education and Hope Zone Success Coach with the amazing Omega CDC is helping to design and build the state of Ohio’s first Federally Funded Promise Neighborhood Student Success model. Director of Development with CLEAN Enterprises, Person’s passion and calling for providing hope for systematic transformation leads him to engage restored citizens throughout every place in society, including places of incarceration (juvenile detentions, county jails, and state/federal prisons).
Drawing from African, Western, and Eastern philosophies, Person states that the foundation and understanding that it takes a village to raise a child is what engages him into these spaces of transformation. His influence leaves a mark in the education arena through coaching, consulting, and speaking.
He is the proud recipient of many accolades on the precision of his work and dedication to his craft. His reputation truly precedes him as a young vibrant visionary whose dedication and practice have quipped him to lead and influence the culture of today. He is an active and loving father of three beautiful children, Jeremiah, Jada, and Joshua.
Board Member – Sec.
Carolyn Murphy is the wife of Dr. Robert Murphy, CEO/Founder of The Masters Preparatory Academy. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning, a Masters Degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. She retired from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after 38 years of service where she enforced the federal civil rights laws and served as the principal advisor on civil rights matters for the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Her responsibilities included overseeing staff in the investigation of complaints alleging violations of the federal fair housing and civil rights laws, and monitoring cities, counties and States receiving HUD funding to ensure they met their obligation to further the principles of fair and affordable housing. Her jurisdiction included the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Carolyn has served on non-profit and for-profit boards. She served for over 15 years as a member of the Board of Directors for Tropic Sun Towers, a timeshare resort in Daytona Beach, Florida. She also served as member of the Board of Directors of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Education Foundation, the non-profit arm of her sorority. Carolyn has been a life-long advocate for the rights of the underserved and underprivileged populations of this country.
Board Member
Rev. Dr. John C. Tyus is a dedicated community leader, educator, author, and pastor whose work focuses on empowering individuals and strengthening families. He is the founder and executive director of The I.D. Movement, a leadership and character development organization aimed at inspiring and developing fatherless Black men into positive role models.
Dr. Tyus’s personal experiences, including the loss of his father at a young age, fuel his passion for addressing the challenges faced by fatherless men. He believes that healing the family unit is essential for healing the nation. The I.D. Movement, his flagship initiative, reflects this belief through programs that provide holistic support and guidance.
The organization has hosted impactful community events like “The I.D. Movement Presents…A Conversation with the Fathers,” which brought together faith leaders to share their experiences and discuss overcoming adversity. Their Summer Holistic Approach Programming, in partnership with local churches and universities, offers real-life college experiences and comprehensive development in areas such as workforce readiness, personal growth, and character building. In 2022, The I.D. Movement launched its annual conference, The I.D. Movement Experience, further extending its reach and impact.
Dr. Tyus’s work has garnered significant recognition. He is the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award of Ohio, the 2022 Courageous Award, and the 2024 Central Ohio Honors Faith Leader Award. He has also been recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives for his contributions to social change. His community projects and insights have been featured on various media outlets, including BounceTV, Joy 107.1, WBNS 10TV News, ABC Channel 6, Magic 95.5, and Telemundo.
Dr. Tyus holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Franklin University, a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, and a Doctoral degree from The United Theological Seminary. His doctoral dissertation focused on designing a mentoring program for fatherless Black males in a post-modern generation.
As a passionate presenter, Dr. Tyus seeks to empower and inspire audiences. He is the author of three books: “The I.D. Movement Presents; Voices of the Fathers; Letters to the Millennial Leader; Columbus Edition,” “Mind Elevation: A Guide to Improving Your Mental Diet in 30 Days,” and “Voices of the Sons; Letters from the Emerging Leaders; Columbus Edition.” In addition to his community work and writing, Dr. Tyus serves as Senior Pastor at World Conquerors through Jesus Christ Ministries in Columbus, Ohio.
Board Member
Tim Brown is an author, educator, coach, and motivational speaker who has inspired youth and young adults’ for decades. Coach Tim Brown is the host of Be a Baller Podcast – Building a Life Long Legacy. He is currently Central Ohio Ministry Camp Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Tim is a licensed and ordained minister. Tim has been a 5th Grade Boys Teacher at Sonshine Christian Academy and worked as an Instructional Assistance for Columbus Public Schools. He is committed to helping families prepare their children for a bright future through being led by the word of God.
Coach Brown is a Chaplin for several area high school sports teams. and speaks at FCA Huddles, Churches, and Youth Conferences. He has served as a chapel speaker for The Ohio State University Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams.
Tim has led workshops at University of Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio University and Savanah State Universities. He is a school assembly speaker, leads Boys Won’t Be Boys Uncommon Life Book Clubs at schools and has spoken at the “Men’s Rally in the Valley” in Youngstown, Ohio.
Tim has used his unique combination of skills and experiences to author, Boys Won’t Be Boys – Empowering Boys to Live Uncommon in a Common World and his new book release, Uncommon Athletes, a powerful and insightful book that is the third in the Uncommon Life series.
Tim was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and raised in East Cleveland, Ohio and a proud graduate of East Cleveland Shaw High School. He received his B.A. degree from Ohio University and began his professional career in Columbus, Ohio where he still resides with his wife Karmen of 39 years and they are proud parents of three young adult children.
Board Member
Dr. Edward D. Herderick is the Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Director at America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). He provides strategic leadership and program management for workforce initiatives that support customer projects, build strategic partnerships, and advance additive manufacturing (AM) talent development nationwide.
With nearly 20 years of experience in industrial materials science and manufacturing, from metals to ceramics and polymers, Ed has held leadership roles across academia and industry. He previously served as Vice President for Science and Technology Development at NSL Analytical, where he expanded services in AM and aerospace manufacturing. Before that, he was Director of Additive Manufacturing at The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), where he led major campus-wide AM initiatives, including the launch of the Medical Manufacturing and Modeling (M4) program.
He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Board Member
Dr. Talisa L. Dixon is a nationally recognized educational leader with more than 30 years of experience transforming school systems and advancing student-centered leadership. As a former superintendent in Ohio’s largest and most complex districts, she is known for leading with courage, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to equity and excellence.
Most recently, Dr. Dixon served as Superintendent and CEO of Columbus City Schools, where she launched a bold district-wide equity framework, restructured central office systems, expanded access to gifted and career-focused programs, and cultivated strategic partnerships to support whole-child learning. She previously served as Superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District and as Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Saginaw Public Schools in Michigan. Her leadership journey also includes roles as a high school principal and assistant superintendent.
Dr. Dixon’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Educator Award from the National Council of Negro Women, induction into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame, an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Otterbein University, and recognition among Columbus Business First’s “Power 100.” She has been featured in national publications and platforms, including Voice4Equity, the Institute for Educational Leadership, and Columbus CEO Magazine.
A lifelong advocate for public education and inclusive leadership, Dr. Dixon currently serves as a board trustee for Otterbein University and a founding board member of The Masters Preparatory Academy. She is also an Executive Coach with the Women of Color Education Collaborative and a mentor to aspiring school leaders nationwide.
As the founder of TLD Empowered Education, she now works with school systems and nonprofits to drive strategic planning, develop equity-minded leaders, and build responsive systems that serve every learner.
Dr. Dixon holds degrees from Mississippi Valley State University (B.A., Sociology), the University of Akron (M.Ed.), and a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Ohio State University. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Board Member
Carolyn Smith, CPA, MBA, CRMA had led the Columbus City Schools’ Office of Internal Audit for 13 years. During Ms. Smith tenure, she was recognized by Auditor of State Dave Yost as a Tax Payer Hero for her commitment to ethics and integrity. Ms. Smith was also selected as the Ohio School Board Association Exemplary School District Employee in 2019. Ms. Smith is very active in the accounting profession and volunteers her expertise to various national and state organizations either as a Board member, committee member or general member:
Ms. Smith was an inaugural member of the Cincinnati Chambers WE Lead program. WE Lead is a leadership development program for high potential, goal-oriented women looking to advance their careers and elevate their leadership capabilities. WE Lead prepares, positions, and empowers women to move into higher leadership roles.
Professional memberships include the Ohio Society of CPA’s, ALGA, Association of Government Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors, The AICPA and the International Association of School Business Officials.
Ms. Smith is a graduate of Ohio University (MBA), and Franklin University (BS)
Ms. Smith contact information is csmith@themastersprep.org or (614)282-0466 Mobile
