Denise Ousley

Dr. Denise Ousley-Exum has been an educator since 1995 and currently serves an associate professor in the Watson College of Education at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Ousley specializes in methods of teaching Secondary English, diverse learners, interdisciplinary studies, Young Adult literature, and leadership studies.

Dr. Ousley is the 2025 Murphy Distinguished Scholar of Education and her focus is teacher joy and co-leading the Teaching with Joy Network.