Schooled: Celebs Who Could Be College Professors

These stars are smart enough to survive academia.

Droppin' Knowledge - Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that school is back in session and students of all ages are hitting the books. But we think some of the best education can be found outside the halls of universities, right from the mouths and Twitter feeds of your favorite celebrities. Here are a few stars we think should get a shot at tenure. (Photos from left: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Droppin' Knowledge - Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that school is back in session and students of all ages are hitting the books. But we think some of the best education can be found outside the halls of universities, right from the mouths and Twitter feeds of your favorite celebrities. Here are a few stars we think should get a shot at tenure. (Photos from left: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

John Legend - The University of Pennsylvania graduate regularly puts his critical thinking skills to good use, both as an activist and an advocate. His empassioned Oscars speech, in which he pointed out how the hard-fought gains of the civil rights era are being "compromised today," was hotly debated on cable news. Maybe he should share some of his world views with the leaders of tomorrow.  (Photo: Jason Bahr/Getty Images for SeriesFest)

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John Legend - The University of Pennsylvania graduate regularly puts his critical thinking skills to good use, both as an activist and an advocate. His empassioned Oscars speech, in which he pointed out how the hard-fought gains of the civil rights era are being "compromised today," was hotly debated on cable news. Maybe he should share some of his world views with the leaders of tomorrow.  (Photo: Jason Bahr/Getty Images for SeriesFest)

Jesse Williams - The Grey's Anatomy star has spoken so eloquently about racial double standards and police brutality over the past few years, we aren't surprised when people refer to him as our generation's Harry Belafonte. From his thoughtful critique of Django Unchained to his strong statements on social media ("Blackness has never been a threat to whiteness. Whiteness has always actively threatened blackness. This is not a matter of opinion," is a favorite), students would do good listening to what he has to say. (Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET)

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Jesse Williams - The Grey's Anatomy star has spoken so eloquently about racial double standards and police brutality over the past few years, we aren't surprised when people refer to him as our generation's Harry Belafonte. From his thoughtful critique of Django Unchained to his strong statements on social media ("Blackness has never been a threat to whiteness. Whiteness has always actively threatened blackness. This is not a matter of opinion," is a favorite), students would do good listening to what he has to say. (Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET)

Kerry Washington - The Scandal star is as intelligent as they come in Hollywood, and while the bar there is relatively low, we think she'd do just fine in an academic environment, too. Take the time she gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention — not many celebs can seamlessly go from politics to Hollywood. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Kerry Washington - The Scandal star is as intelligent as they come in Hollywood, and while the bar there is relatively low, we think she'd do just fine in an academic environment, too. Take the time she gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention — not many celebs can seamlessly go from politics to Hollywood. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Hill Harper - This actor comes with a serious Ivy League pedigree: he has degrees from both Brown and Harvard Law. His roommate at the latter school was none other than President Barack Obama. He could have just as easily been a law school professor — or leader of the free world! — if he wasn't starring on CSI: New York.  (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Neighborhood Awards)

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Hill Harper - This actor comes with a serious Ivy League pedigree: he has degrees from both Brown and Harvard Law. His roommate at the latter school was none other than President Barack Obama. He could have just as easily been a law school professor — or leader of the free world! — if he wasn't starring on CSI: New York.  (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Neighborhood Awards)

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Laverne Cox - The Orange Is the New Black star is as well known for patiently helping America understand the transgender journey as she is for her role as inmate Sophia Burset on the hit series. The TIME cover girl is generous about spreading the knowledge and could certainly prep the future.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Laverne Cox - The Orange Is the New Black star is as well known for patiently helping America understand the transgender journey as she is for her role as inmate Sophia Burset on the hit series. The TIME cover girl is generous about spreading the knowledge and could certainly prep the future.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Talib Kweli - Growing up with professors as parents, it's no wonder the Black Star rapper is super woke. Kweli is known for his consciousness-raising lyrics as well as his outspoken views on race, culture, hip hop and many other topics. He's even a regular on the college guest lecture circuit.  (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

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Talib Kweli - Growing up with professors as parents, it's no wonder the Black Star rapper is super woke. Kweli is known for his consciousness-raising lyrics as well as his outspoken views on race, culture, hip hop and many other topics. He's even a regular on the college guest lecture circuit.  (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

Jada Pinkett Smith - The University of North Carolina graduate somehow manages to consistently use her fame to shed light on the important issues of the day — she even managed to turn our interview about Magic Mike XXL into an opportunity to talk about sex workers and human trafficking. We may as well start calling her Professor Smith now! (Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

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Jada Pinkett Smith - The University of North Carolina graduate somehow manages to consistently use her fame to shed light on the important issues of the day — she even managed to turn our interview about Magic Mike XXL into an opportunity to talk about sex workers and human trafficking. We may as well start calling her Professor Smith now! (Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

America Ferrera - You may know her as adorkable fish-out-of-water Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty, but in real life this actress is no joke. As a producer, lecturer and activist, Ferrera's knowledge of politics is awe-inspiring and totally worthy of a classroom setting. (Photo: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)

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America Ferrera - You may know her as adorkable fish-out-of-water Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty, but in real life this actress is no joke. As a producer, lecturer and activist, Ferrera's knowledge of politics is awe-inspiring and totally worthy of a classroom setting. (Photo: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)

Killer Mike - The Run the Jewels rapper has become one of the foremost voices on Black issues in America through insightful op-ed pieces and well-worded tweets. He could do a great job shaping young minds in a college environment. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Killer Mike - The Run the Jewels rapper has become one of the foremost voices on Black issues in America through insightful op-ed pieces and well-worded tweets. He could do a great job shaping young minds in a college environment. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

Photo By Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella

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Zoe Saldana feels personally hurt by the ongoing immigration debate. - "This topic of immigration hurts because I don’t want to be angry anymore. I don’t believe that what anybody else is saying is true about me or my people. I’m kind of embarrassed when you see all of these people talking on national television, and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, if your grandfather were alive today, when he came here from Ireland, from Italy, escaped the f**king war in Russia. You’re rotting his name to shame. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, or how many degrees from Ivy League schools. You’re such a bigot. You’re such a hick right now."

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Zoe Saldana - The Avatar star is an outspoken feminist and has some interesting views on race — which have sometimes landed her in hot water. Still, Saldana is always ready to make a point on matters of gender, race and sexuality. Sounds like a Women's Studies professor if we've ever seen one. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Spike TV)

Ava DuVernay - If the Selma director hadn't become a world-renowned filmmaker, she would have easily found a place in academia. DuVernay is both knowledgeable and inspiring: a killer combination for teaching.   (Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

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Ava DuVernay - If the Selma director hadn't become a world-renowned filmmaker, she would have easily found a place in academia. DuVernay is both knowledgeable and inspiring: a killer combination for teaching.   (Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Janelle Monáe - This singer is more than just a pretty face. The socially-conscious star is outspoken about women's rights and race, and one of the smartest pop stars in the game. Even Harvard agrees — the esteemed university honored Monáe with an Award for Achievement in Arts and Media. Maybe they'll extend a visiting fellowship, too?  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Janelle Monáe - This singer is more than just a pretty face. The socially-conscious star is outspoken about women's rights and race, and one of the smartest pop stars in the game. Even Harvard agrees — the esteemed university honored Monáe with an Award for Achievement in Arts and Media. Maybe they'll extend a visiting fellowship, too?  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Oprah Winfrey - Is there anything Oprah can't do? The media mogul, billionaire, philanthropist and all-around icon is so informed about so many things, she can teach a class in just about anything. Instead of Oprah's Book Club, she can have Oprah's Syllabus. (Photo: Larry French/Getty Images)

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Oprah Winfrey - Is there anything Oprah can't do? The media mogul, billionaire, philanthropist and all-around icon is so informed about so many things, she can teach a class in just about anything. Instead of Oprah's Book Club, she can have Oprah's Syllabus. (Photo: Larry French/Getty Images)

Amandla Stenberg - The young actress' school project, a video about cultural appropriation called Don't Cash Crop My Corn Rows, is already akin to a Master's thesis. So we have no doubt the Hunger Games star would be fully capable of teaching a college class in African-American Studies. On the other hand, Stenberg just graduated high school, so maybe we'll let her go to college before we advocate for her teaching college! (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Women in Film)

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Amandla Stenberg - The young actress' school project, a video about cultural appropriation called Don't Cash Crop My Corn Rows, is already akin to a Master's thesis. So we have no doubt the Hunger Games star would be fully capable of teaching a college class in African-American Studies. On the other hand, Stenberg just graduated high school, so maybe we'll let her go to college before we advocate for her teaching college! (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Women in Film)

Erykah Badu - Miss Badoula is often studied in African-American and Women's Studies courses, but given her knowledge of history and politics, there's no doubt she would blend right in at the faculty lounge. A Baduism course would definitely be a favorite among students.  (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Erykah Badu - Miss Badoula is often studied in African-American and Women's Studies courses, but given her knowledge of history and politics, there's no doubt she would blend right in at the faculty lounge. A Baduism course would definitely be a favorite among students.  (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)