Jonathan Collins

Dr. Jonathan Collins is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, within the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology. His work sits at the intersection of political science and education, focusing on power, equity, and democratic participation in educational systems.

His research interests include participatory democracy, school board governance, educational equity, critical race theory politics, and community engagement. He examines how power is distributed and can be reallocated through mechanisms like participatory budgeting and inclusive school board meetings. He is particularly interested in bridging the gap between national policy debates and the lived realities of urban and underserved school communities.

Dr. Collins's recent publications reflect a strong trend toward policy-relevant scholarship, with a focus on democratic reforms, racial justice, civic education, and the politics of education in the U.S. His work frequently analyzes public participation, voter engagement, and systemic inequities in education governance.

• Provost's Faculty Research Awards (featured in institutional communications)
• Internal Faculty Awardee at Teachers College (implied through feature)

He advises students and has mentored former students in research and technology development, including a digital platform prototype for community engagement in education. His work is supported by institutional research offices and aligns with major funding bodies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

Dr. Collins leads a research lab focused on developing technological tools to enhance parent and community involvement in schools, aiming to foster digital democracy at the local level.