Montia Gardner (Cohort 19) has been selected for the position of Vice President of Education for the Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NAZ is a non-profit organization with a mission to end generational poverty in North Minneapolis and Montia will lead their educational strategy. This position directly correlates with her dissertation on the role of organizational capital and its benefit to the cultivation of academic talent in low-SES communities and schools.

Besides her dissertation research, Montia's background has prepared her well for her new position. She holds a Masters in Education and has over 15 years of experience in K-12 and Higher Ed. In 2014 she founded the Math and Reading summer Enrichment Program and Building Our Brilliance: Workshop Series for Teachers to support academic achievement and intellectual advancement in her hometown of Gary, Indiana. For the past few years, she has been a research assistant and adjunct professor in UMBC's Department of Education.

Montia plans to defend her dissertation in May and move to Minneapolis in June.

Please join us in congratulating Montia on her new position!