Biography
A research clinician & public speaker.
Her research with the Pullias Center on first-gen college students has been presented at national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and informs institutional strategies that support financial education, resilience, and long-term financial mobility. As a result of many endeavors, Dr. Khalilah leads sessions on financial stewardship, purpose-driven leadership, and social mobility practices at the powerful ministries The Potter’s House Dallas and OneLA in Los Angeles. Her public speaking and teaching reflect a commitment to making financial knowledge accessible, either secular or faith-based, and transformative.
A facilitator & administrator.
Her work at the University of Southern California applies current research to ensure institutional practices enhance the lived financial experiences of student-athletes—from those navigating economic scarcity to those managing new wealth and leadership roles—with a particular emphasis on how financial stress and literacy shape educational and life outcomes. Her dedication to advancing the finwell industry has led to the Trojan Financial Wellness Initiative for student-athletes, partnering with the USC Marshall’s Leventhal School of Accounting. Her efforts effectively bridge research and practice, transforming data into scalable, responsive interventions.
Dr. Khalilah is working on a new book, “Stop telling me to budget! A parent’s guide to navigating the university marketplace.” The book follows the lives of high-achieving student families, including Khalilah’s own as they tackle the complexity of funding their children’s education at universities regarded among the best in the world.
Feedback & Reviews
“I was soooooo inspired by your story! It was a perfect fit [for the panel]!“
Miki Turner
Award-winning journalist, author, and producer
“I wanted to say thank you so much… [for your] wisdom and thoughts/suggestions of strategy were beautiful to witness… it’s the first time I’m having to dig deeper within myself to uncover, unlearn, and learn new perspectives… So thank you so much for that!”
M. Hollis
The Potter’s House Dallas, Community Group
“Khalilah, you rock! Thank you for all of your help and counsel these past weeks! I appreciate your “can do” approach to problems and your reactive solutions.”
Clarke Stroud
Director of Player Development, USC Men’s Football