Tamara Bertrand Jones

Tamara Bertrand Jones is a Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the Education Policy, Organization & Leadership department at the College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her scholarly work and administrative leadership focus on higher education policy, leadership development, and issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings, with particular attention to community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Dr. Bertrand Jones received her academic training at:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin
• Master's degree in Higher Education from Florida State University
• Ph.D. in Research and Evaluation Methods from Florida State University

Her research interests span multiple critical areas in education:

• Higher Education Policy: Particularly focused on developmental education reform in community colleges, with extensive work examining Florida's college system
• Diversity and Inclusion: Specializing in the experiences of Black women in higher education, both as students and faculty
• Leadership Development: Exploring culturally responsive leadership learning models and the role of HBCUs in developing socially just leadership
• Student Success: Investigating factors that support underprepared students, basic needs insecurity, and academic motivation in community college settings

Dr. Bertrand Jones's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on equity and access in higher education. Her most recent publications (2020-2024) reveal a strong emphasis on developmental education reform in Florida's community colleges, the experiences of Black women in graduate education, and the role of HBCUs in social justice leadership development. Her work often employs qualitative and mixed methods approaches to examine complex institutional policies and their impact on diverse student populations.

As Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Bertrand Jones plays a key leadership role in supporting faculty development and diversity initiatives within the College of Education. Her scholarly work on mentoring and professional development for Black women faculty directly informs her administrative approach to faculty support and retention.