[12] Howard served as the Faculty Director of Center X from 2008 to 2015 and subsequently held the position of Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies from 2015 to 2018 at UCLA.

His research focuses on investigating and addressing issues pertaining to race, culture, access, and educational opportunities for student populations that have historically been marginalized or minoritized.

[16] In his early research, Howard emphasized the need to better equip European American teachers to effectively instruct ethnically diverse students of color.

He also addressed the resistance and apprehension often observed among students in teacher education programs regarding issues related to diversity and race.

[17] In 2001, he conducted research on effective teaching practices for African American students, emphasizing holistic development and cultural responsiveness.

[21] One of Howard's highly cited works determined that culturally relevant pedagogy requires critical teacher reflection to incorporate issues of equity and social justice into teaching practice.

In their book review, Vershawn Ashanti Young and Y’Shanda Young-Rivera commented, "Howard’s text helps readers... make sense of the genesis and doggedness of these racial disparities as well as the necessity of understanding these trends.