Jeremiah J. Sims Ph.D.
Redding
Summary
Accomplished, dynamic, and results-driven professional with extensive experience designing, launching, and scaling equity-centered programs from ground up and securing grant funding to sustain initiatives rooted in radical belonging and cultural responsiveness. Expert at translating vision into action, building ecosystems, and directing paid talks and trainings on race, equity, inclusion, and justice (REIJ). Excel at leading with both heart and precision, transforming inequitable systems, and fostering safe, humanizing, and psychologically affirming environments where teams feel seen, heard, and deeply valued. Adept at facilitating transformative workshops, guiding organizations through equity-centered change, and coaching individuals toward fullest potential with clarity and compassion. Skilled in designing and leading justice-centered curricula and professional learning experiences that center racial equity, cultural responsiveness, and radical inclusivity.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Dean of Instruction and Middle & High School Guide
Acton Academy Redding
Redding
01.2023 - Current
- Mentor middle and high school learners through personalized guidance and support.
- Engage parents and community stakeholders to foster collaborative educational partnerships.
- Develop culturally-responsive and sustained curriculum tailored to diverse student needs.
- Implement innovative curricula aligned with educational standards and student needs.
- Directed instructional programs as Dean to enhance academic excellence and learner outcomes.
- Trained instructional guides in principles and application of critical-reality pedagogy.
Founding Director/Lead Teacher
The Washington State Guided Pathways Initiative in Diversity, Equity, Antiracism, and Leadership (IDEAL)
01.2022 - Current
- Design agency-inciting, equity-centered educational experiences for certificated community college students across Washington State.
- Create and facilitate justice-centered, equity-advancing curriculum to cultivate student agency and foster individual and collective solidarity.
- Assess student work with a focus on academic growth, critical thinking, and equity-informed evaluation.
- Guide students in applying IMPACT equity framework to critically analyze and advocate for equity-centered institutional policies.
- Delivered presentations on IDEAL (inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and leadership) at academic and equity-centered conferences.
- Hosted office hours to deepen student comprehension and ensure each learner feels supported, valued, and affirmed.
- Evaluated components of radical inclusivity by developing application tools and pre/post-assessment metrics.
- Virtual
Director of Equity
College of San Mateo
San Mateo
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Led institution-wide equity and racial justice initiatives at College of San Mateo to cultivate a campus culture rooted in belonging, accountability, and transformative change.
- Delivered equity-focused training sessions to faculty, staff, and campus leadership to promote cross-departmental alignment on inclusive practices.
- Developed and launched initiatives to remove systemic barriers, advance culturally responsive teaching, and amplify student voice—especially for historically underserved communities.
- Collaborated across campus divisions to drive educational equity by managing funding for equity-focused programs and initiatives.
- Designed and facilitated a professional development course for faculty on critical instructional design that advances equity.
- Advocated for and applied data-driven strategies to close equity gaps and humanize institutional policies and practices.
- Spearheaded key efforts to cultivate a campus climate grounded in educational equity, social justice, and anti-racism.
- Educated faculty, staff, and administrators on equity-centered pedagogies and inclusive educational practices.
Co-Founder & Principal Consultant
Rooted in Love
Redding
01.2017 - Current
- Spearhead REIJ (Race, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) pedagogical training initiatives for community college faculty statewide.
- Facilitate certified training sessions on IMPACT (Innovative, Measurable, Purposeful, Antiracist, Caring, Transformative) Equity Framework.
- Collaborate with a range of institutions including Stanford University, CSU San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Eastern Oregon University, Santa Rosa Junior College, Spokane Community College, and Spokane Valley College to implement equity-driven communication and instructional practices.
- Coached community college deans, department chairs, and managers in applying equity-centered leadership and practices.
- Directed equity training programs for prospective K-12 Ethnic Studies educators in Shasta, Glen, and Butte Counties.
- Served as executive equity coach to guide institutional leaders in embedding equity into strategic decision-making.
Interim Director of Student Equity
Peralta Community College District
Oakland
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Led district-wide equity initiatives across three colleges to cultivate a climate rooted in educational justice and inclusivity.
- Trained faculty, staff, and administrators in equitable pedagogical practices and student-centered frameworks.
- Designed and launched Peralta Scholars Program (PSP) to address and close achievement gaps among underrepresented student populations.
- Created professional development programs tailored for teachers and counselors to strengthen support systems for diverse learners.
- Developed data-informed program efficacy metrics to assess impact, improve practices, and guide strategic decision-making.
- Recruited over 600 underrepresented students, including 150 across four colleges into PSP to foster access and belonging.
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of Peralta Scholars Program to ensure seamless execution and student engagement.
Founding Director & Dean of Instruction
Saturday Math and Science Honors Prep Academy
Oakland
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Developed a rigorous, justice-centered STEM program tailored for middle school Black boys to foster academic excellence and self-empowerment.
- Recruited and trained teachers and administrators to align with program objectives and provide high-quality instruction.
- Designed curriculum guides and course-specific content to ensure engaging and culturally relevant learning experiences.
- Led as Instructional Dean and Lead Teacher to oversee educational initiatives and facilitate student success.
- Built partnerships with university stakeholders to recruit undergraduate and graduate volunteers and enhance program delivery.
- Founded a middle school STEM program designed for low-income African American males to address educational disparities.
- Managed and trained a team of three graduate student instructors by providing mentorship and pedagogical support.
- Authored grant proposals to secure program funding and drive financial support for program sustainability.
- Served as a parent and community liaison to foster strong partnerships and enhance program outreach.
Education
Ph.D. - Language, Literacy, Society, and Culture
University of California
04.2016
M.A. - Language, Literacy, Society, and Culture
University of California
05.2010
B.A. - Rhetoric with Honors
University of California
Skills
- Ethnic Studies Curriculum Development
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Grant Writing & Fundraising
- Program & Curriculum Evaluation
- Academic & Student Support
- Team Building & Leadership
- Student Training & Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Community Engagements
Certification
- Trauma-Informed Coaching—The Centre for Healing
- Connection and Belonging—Seek Healing
- Change Management—Alison
Publications
- Finding the Beautiful Path: On Blackness, Multidimensionality, and Radical Becoming, Sims, J.J., Forthcoming, Peter Lang, New York, New York
- The White educators' guide to equity: Teaching for justice in community college, Wallace, J., Sims, J.J., 2023, Peter Lang, New York, New York
- Improving Departmental Equity Using the IMPACT Framework, Sims, J.J., Sims, R., Edney, N., Gable, T., O’Sullivan, P., 10/12/2021, Every Learner Everywhere, https://www.everylearnereverywhere.org/resources/getting-started-with-equity-a-guide-for-academic-department-leaders/
- Minding the Obligation Gap in Community Colleges: Theory and Practice in Achieving Educational Equity, Sims, J.J., 2020, Peter Lang, New York, New York
- Revolutionary STEM Education: Critical-reality pedagogy and social justice in STEM for Black males, Sims, J.J., 2018, Peter Lang, New York, New York
- Engineering Equity: A critical pedagogical approach to language and curriculum change for African American males in STEM, Mahiri, J., Sims, J.J., 2016, In Curriculum Change in Language and STEM subjects as a Right in Education, Rotterdam: Sense Publishing
- Getting Started with Equity: A Guide for Academic Department Leaders, Gable, T., Holiday, T., O'Sullivan, P., Sims, J.J., 2021, Every Learner Everywhere
Timeline
Dean of Instruction and Middle & High School Guide
Acton Academy Redding
01.2023 - Current
Founding Director/Lead Teacher
The Washington State Guided Pathways Initiative in Diversity, Equity, Antiracism, and Leadership (IDEAL)
01.2022 - Current
Co-Founder & Principal Consultant
Rooted in Love
01.2017 - Current
Director of Equity
College of San Mateo
01.2016 - 01.2022
Interim Director of Student Equity
Peralta Community College District
01.2014 - 01.2016
Founding Director & Dean of Instruction
Saturday Math and Science Honors Prep Academy
01.2011 - 01.2014
Ph.D. - Language, Literacy, Society, and Culture
University of California
M.A. - Language, Literacy, Society, and Culture
University of California
B.A. - Rhetoric with Honors
University of California