Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins (DoctorJonPaul) is an award winning educator, professor, national speaker, freelance journalist, thought leader and media critic who examines the intersections of identity, gender and race in entertainment. Named National Black Justice Coalition’s Inaugural Emerging Leaders to Watch and Business Equality Magazine’s “Top 40 LGBTQ People Under 40”, their work has been featured on sites like Essence, Ebony, Complex, MTV NEWS, Out Magazine, BET & Entertainment Weekly. A Culture Strike 2021 Disruptor, Black Boy/Girl Writes Fellow and Twitter Spaces Spark Creator, DoctorJonPaul is trailblazer who is creating, sharing, and crafting the stories their ancestors didn’t get to tell. 

Dr. Higgins is currently the inaugural Director of Strategic Media & Advocacy for Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance and has held positions at both Chernin Entertainment & Edith Productions. They have consulted with multiple brands on inclusion projects including United Artists, Amazon Prime, Fox, the NFL, Apple, Disney, Instagram, Buzzfeed, G.L.A.A.D. and most recently, Ulta Beauty. 

They have also been a featured speaker for South by Southwest (SXSW) & TEDx and most recently was the first Black queer person to be a featured speaker at ForbesBLK. You can also see them on hit shows like Netflix’s Nailed It and Fuse’s Like a Girl.

They are the creator, executive producer and host of the “Black Fat Femme Podcast'' which was developed via IHeartMedia’s Next Up Initiative in 2021. The podcast has gone on to be named one of the “top Black podcasts to listen to” by both Ebony and Pride Magazine and being named both a Webby Honoree, along with a Shorty Award win for best Lifestyle & Entertainment podcast.

Currently, they are working on their first book, Black Fat Femme: How to Love Yourself by Unveiling the Power of Visibly Queer Voices, acquired by Wiley Global and slated for release in April of 2025.

DoctorJonPaul holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership in Social Justice from University of Redlands, being named as a distinguished recipient of the School of Education’s Centennial Excellence Award in 2024.

They continue to write and lecture regularly on what liberation means for Black, fat, queer and non-binary individuals and what folks can do to better show up for those who are often left at the margins in media and education.