Henry C. Alphin Jr.
Henry C. Alphin Jr.
Affiliate Faculty
higher education, economic development, community development, nonprofit leadership
I am a nonprofit and higher education strategist with over 20 years of experience building initiatives that empower communities, strengthen organizations, and drive cross-sector impact. At the core of my work is HCA Strategies, the consulting practice I founded to help mission-driven organizations grow with purpose, clarity, and resilience.
Through HCA Strategies, I’ve served as a trusted partner to a diverse portfolio of organizations. I currently support Community Welfare Foundation as Executive Administrator, leading workforce development and immigrant-focused programs in the DMV region. I also guide strategic initiatives and partnerships at Technicom, Inc., and manage business operations and growth systems at Stefanik Design, a boutique design studio.
I serve as Affiliate Faculty at George Mason University, contributing to scholarship, community engagement, and mentorship in the field of international higher education and development. In addition, I’ve published as both author and editor on topics related to education, strategy, and social impact.
Previously, I served as Director of Operations and Board Secretary at the American Pakistan Foundation, where I led the organization’s 15th anniversary programs and oversaw major expansions to its Fellowship and Mentorship initiatives. From guiding civic engagement efforts like the 2024 Get Out The Vote campaign to building cross-institutional partnerships with think tanks and NGOs, I’ve consistently championed work that connects people to power, purpose, and opportunity.
Current Research
Building on my operational and programmatic work with immigrant-serving nonprofits (including partnering on GMU’s Establishing Locally Rooted Asian American Studies project), my related areas of interest through IIR are on bridging workforce development, English language learning, and civic integration, with a specific focus on South Asian Americans in the DC Metro area. The first area of interest examines how localized ESL and mentorship programs, like those piloted at CWF, can improve economic mobility and belonging among adult learners. A second area of interest is to explore immigrant professional re-entry, analyzing the barriers faced by internationally trained professionals seeking to resume careers in the U.S. healthcare, education, and technical sectors. A third line of inquiry would be to assess the role of community centers as integration ecosystems, linking quantitative data on immigrant skill utilization with qualitative narratives of adaptation, identity, and leadership.
Selected Publications
Disability and Equity in Higher Education Accessibility
Alphin, H.C., Lavine, J., & Chan, R. (Eds.). (2017).
Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
The Future of Accessibility in International Higher Education
Alphin, H.C., Chan, R., & Lavine, J. (Eds.) (2017).
Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Higher Education Accessibility and Current e-Learning Potential in the MENA Region: Analysis of the Current Challenges and Opportunities for e-Learning in the Middle East and North African (MENA) Region
Alphin, H.C., & Lavine, J. (2017)
In The Future of Accessibility in International Higher Education
Alphin, H.C., Chan, R., & Lavine, J. (Eds.) (2017).
Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Facilitating Higher Education Growth through Fundraising and Philanthropy
Alphin, H.C., Lavine, J., Stark, S., & Hocker, A. (Eds.). (2016).
Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Higher Education Philanthropy Potential in the GCC States: Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities for FDI and Venture Philanthropy in the MENA Region
Alphin, H.C., & Lavine, J. (2016)
In Alphin, H.C., Lavine, J., Stark, S. & Hocker, A. (Eds.), Facilitating Higher Education Growth through Fundraising and Philanthropy.
Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Expanded Publication List
Education
I hold an MBA from the Warwick Business School (UK), as well as a Master’s in Higher Education (MSHE) and a Bachelor's in Economics from Drexel University.