Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Additional Information
Presentations
Organizationsandaffiliations
Publications
Timeline
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Tanisha Pruitt

Tanisha Pruitt

Columbus

Summary

Enthusiastic Public Policy PhD with additional degrees in Behavioral Science, and Sociology. Skilled research scholar passionate about advancing knowledge in the areas of postsecondary education, higher education, closing racial and economic gaps in educational success and attainment, youth opportunity gaps, educator pay, training, and retention, and early childhood education. Additional interest include, racial equity, diversity and inclusion, youth safety and juvenile justice, housing justice, economic mobility and justice, and alleviating global inequality. Knowledgeable in research methods, policy analysis, legislative lobbying and advocacy, coalitional building, stakeholder engagement, program evaluation, and policy implementation. Displays a dedication to personal commitments and places a premium on responsibility, integrity, and performance. Highly organized, adaptable, and detail oriented. Equally successful working independently or in a team environment. Uses knowledge and skills, with a goal to educate the public and advocate for public policy changes in the areas of interest, to improve outcomes and provide opportunities for all people regardless of race, income, identity, or place.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Youth, Opportunity, and Education Researcher

Policy Matters Ohio
07.2023 - Current
  • Examines and analyze state budget revenue through the lens of K-12 school funding streams, higher education funding, workforce education programs and pathways, juvenile justice spending, fines and fees, youth homelessness, and youth services
  • Produce and manage multiple research projects, research reports, blogs, op-eds, and resource toolkits on school funding, achievement gaps, educator pay and training, early childhood education, bail reform, cradle-to-prison pipeline, youth opportunity gaps, fines and fees, student debt, and higher education reform
  • Manages a database that synthesizes large volumes of information, identifying key trends and patterns relevant to research objectives.
  • Utilizes statistical packages to analyze data and create visualizations.
  • Builds and implements an effective adovacy strategy for the organization’s engagement with policymakers, state legislative leadership, the Governor’s office, state agency officials, and local officials and educational leaders.
  • Collaborates with statewide coalitions, stakeholders, and funders on projects and initiatives across the state to network and advance equity and build equitable and sustainable communities
  • Organizes statewide grassroots working groups and engages with partners on educational equity and reform
  • Gives statewide presentations to varying audiences on research and provide action steps and solutions to pressing policy issues
  • Advances racial equity, diversity, and inclusion both internally and externally through various leadership positions, workshop facilitation, and mentorship
  • Provide interviews with press across multimedia formats (print, radio, tv) on research and policy advocacy efforts.
  • Builds and implements a strategy for the organization’s engagement with policymakers, state legislative leadership, the Governor’s office, state agency officials, and local officials and educational leaders.
  • Secures funding for vital policy projects by assisting in writing compelling grant proposals and establishing relationships with donors.


Research Consultant

The Boys and Young Men of Color Collective
12.2023 - 06.2024


  • Employed qualitative and quantitative methods to conduct thorough analysis of factors contributing to firearm utilization among males of color in Franklin County.
  • Authored a comprehensive report that highlighted key trends in firearm utilization driving increased visibility for the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, state agencies, advocates, and community members.
  • Spearheaded cross-functional team collaboration, ensuring timely completion of the research project.
  • Streamlined data collection processes for improved efficiency and accuracy in research projects.
  • Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, facilitating open lines of communication throughout all stages of project execution.
  • Designed customized research methodologies tailored to clients'' unique needs and objectives.
  • Reviewed technical and professional publications and journals to stay current on recent literature and make more strategic research decisions.
  • Worked as member of integrated project team in highly collaborative work environment.

State Policy Fellow

Policy Matters Ohio
07.2021 - 07.2023
  • Built and maintained positive relationships with stakeholders and public officials by utilizing strategic plans
  • Produced accessible communication materials such as infographics, fact sheets, and podcasts to simplify complex policy concepts for wider audiences.
  • Supported organization with writing, researching and preparation of materials for external and internal audiences
  • Engaged in professional networking to maintain strong relationships with communications and media professionals to drive partnerships and effective dissemination of mass communications
  • Crafted persuasive op-eds and position papers to influence public opinion and policymakers on significant issues.
  • Produced and distributed over 25 blogs, Op-eds and reports
  • Increased public awareness of critical policy issues through engaging presentations, workshops, and panel discussions.
  • Provided expert testimony at legislative hearings, presenting well-researched findings to inform decision-making processes.
  • Lobbied at statehouse on issues ranging from educational funding equity to bail reform, which resulted in increasing educational funding for students by 12%
  • Attended conferences with national partners to network and build organizational capacity.

Research Consultant

Crane R & D Research Firm
05.2020 - 08.2021
  • Performed research into study topics such as education, health, employment, and housing to increase knowledge and to provide valuable contributions
  • Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant questions and determine best methods of collection
  • Analyzed and interpreted patterns and trends
  • Synthesized data and wrote detailed reports to present research findings to stakeholders
  • Interpreted data analysis results to draw inferences and conclusions
  • Performed accurate quantitative analysis of targeted data research, collection and report preparation.

Graduate Research Assistant

Southern University Graduate School
02.2016 - 05.2020
  • Composed data and file management
  • Facilitated research and development with the Dean of the graduate school to produce departmental data report for the University
  • Organized and presented financial data and enrollment reports for internal meetings, including budget management for the school calendar year and reported findings to the department and University leaders
  • Co-Coordinated and developed the online Criminal Justice Program and served as an advisor to criminal justice online undergraduate and graduate students
  • Oversaw admission and enrollment of over 2,000 students into the online program, which generated over 1 million dollars in revenue for the University
  • Created departmental program advertisements and marketing tools
  • Managed and developed the curriculum and design of the program
  • Managed all student files and records
  • Coordinated new student orientation
  • Managed the online program in order to ensure program met department and University standards as well as improving accuracy and efficiency of department.

Research Interviewer

The Ohio State University
08.2019 - 02.2020
  • Coordinated data collection by conducting in-person interviews with subjects for a research study conducted by the National Institute for Health in Columbus, Ohio
  • The sample size for the study was around 1,000-1,500 subjects
  • Subjects included both students aged 14-18 and their parents
  • Organized administering of questionnaires for data collection and then provided responses to data analysis team to include in the report
  • Managed all of subject's confidential information and kept record of their files for the principal investigator of the study.

State Fellow

Office Of The Governor Of Louisiana
06.2018 - 08.2018
  • Pushed for various bills and policy initiatives to pass around career and technical education and apprenticeship programs in the state
  • Reviewed peer-reviewed research and analyzed data sets to work on a project centered around education workforce revenue and spending in the state budget
  • Developed policy recommendations on best practices for funding and programming to improve workforce pathways and build a sustainable workforce for Louisiana
  • Presented research to the Governor of Louisiana, his staff, state leaders, and other stakeholders to raise awareness and build support
  • Lobbied for the renewal of TOPS funding which garnered thousands of low-income Louisiana High School students with funding to attend college
  • Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment
  • Coordinated team building exercises with members of my team and direct supervisors, which helped to foster strong relationships between the team and supervisory staff.

Corporate Research Fellow

Educational Testing Services
06.2017 - 08.2017
  • Produced research on educational development, measurement, assessment, and reform with data analysis and assessment development team
  • Co-Facilitated professional development sessions
  • Planned and coordinated internal meetings and team-building activities to enhance inter office communications
  • Executed a research project with mentor and the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) team on improving Technology and Engineering Assessments (TEL) for elementary school children for the National Center for Educational Statistics at the Department of Education
  • Created improvements to the interface of the TEL assessment website which increased user ability and accessibility.

Political Affairs Intern

The Borgen Project
10.2016 - 04.2017
  • Engaged with those in Congress to get their support for various bills that go to vote on the House Floor to end global poverty on behalf of the organization
  • Actively mobilized with community organizations and stakeholders on global poverty alleviation initiatives
  • Spearheaded grassroots fundraising on behalf of the organization, raising more than $5,000 for the organization
  • Created multi-media presentations to present at local community meetings and universities to educate the community on the growing issue of global poverty and the initiatives of the organization
  • Actively advocate for global policy legislation.

Administrative Support

Wright State University Graduate School Office
10.2014 - 12.2015
  • Provided comprehensive support to the staff in the graduate office
  • Co-facilitated meetings for the admission selection committee
  • Developed a program to increase enrollment, which increased enrollment by 50%
  • Planned and coordinated internal meetings, off-site events, and team building exercises
  • Created reports based on student data collected that were shared with the University administration
  • Managed all student data and files
  • Conducted inbound and outbound calls to assist students with their graduate school applications and supplementary materials, direct phone calls to appropriate personnel and offices, develop new plans of office efficiency.

Sociology Adjunct Faculty Member

Sinclair Community College
03.2015 - 06.2015
  • Facilitated curriculum development and design
  • Lead classroom lectures and discussion
  • Managed daily operations of a classroom of 25 students
  • Prepared activities to engage students in creative ways of learning and developing sociological context
  • Managed development of students critical thinking abilities
  • Encouraged students to use classroom materials outside of the classroom context and created portfolios for later employment opportunities.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy - Public Policy Program, International Development

Southern University And A&M College
Baton Rouge, LA
12.2020

Public Administration Course Certificate -

Louisiana State University Public Administration Institute
Baton Rouge, LA
08.2018

Master of Science - Applied Behavioral Science Program, Criminal Justice Reform and Education

Wright State University
Dayton, OH
12.2015

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology, Family and Child Relationships

Miami University
Oxford, OH
05.2013

Skills

  • Academic Research and Research Methods
  • Data Analytics and Visualization and Statistical Analysis (SPSS)
  • Project Management
  • Legislative lobbying and advocacy
  • Legislative bill writing and analysis
  • Strong Analytical Skills
  • Flexible and Adaptable
  • Organization, time management, and High Attention to Detail
  • Excellent Interpersonal skills and Communication Abilities
  • Microsoft Office and Excel
  • Team Collaboration and Strategic Planning
  • Team Leadership
  • Decision-Making
  • Public Speaking

Accomplishments

  • Achieved restructuring of the Ohio school funding formula to make it more adequate and equitable by completing research and engaging with lawmakers and statewide partners with accuracy and efficiency.
  • Collaborated with team of 10 to form a statewide coalition in the development of a Cost of Confinement working group to help eliminate fines and fees associated with juvenile incarceration.
  • Collaborated with team of 6 in the development of a coalition to eliminate the harm associated with budget decisions for funding for school resource officers.
  • Manages a working group on advancing racial equity within a national network
  • Selected as a 2022 recipient of the Last of the 18 of 9 award from my alma mater Miami University

Certification

  • IBM Data Science Practitioner, IBM, 01/13/21
  • IBM-Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner, IBM
  • NIH-Protecting Human Research Participants, 2822114

Additional Information

Sign Language (Limited working proficiency), Grant Workshop Facilitator (Fall 2015), Grant Review Committee (Spring 2015), Wright State University Graduate School Admission Selection Committee (2015), NERA Proposal Committee (2018)

Presentations

  • YWCA Panel Participant, Lessons Learned: Antiracism in Education
  • Ohio League of Women Voters Presentation for their 2023 Statehouse day, Education in the Budget
  • Ohio Teacher of the Year Event Presentation, The Fair School Funding Plan: Ohio's K-12 Version of the Hunger Games
  • National Public Education Resourcing Partners Presentation, School Funding, Vouchers, and Public Benefits in Ohio
  • Educational Testing Services Research Symposium, Princeton, NJ, NAEPQ: Feedback to teachers and Schools
  • Educating Children of Color Conference, Colorado Springs, CO, Interrupting the Cradle to Prison Pipeline: The Case for Trauma-Sensitive Schools
  • King/ DuBois Conference, Atlanta, GA, Their Future, our Future: The Case for the Continued Protection of DACA Recipients
  • King/ DuBois Conference, Atlanta, GA, A Fight for Equity: School Desegregation Public High Schools, and Why African American Males Have Lowered Academic Achievement
  • Louisiana Academy of the Sciences, Alexandria, LA, Technology Adoption in a Historically Black College And University: An Empirical Study
  • Louisiana Academy of the Sciences, Alexandria, LA, Social Media Presence among Small Businesses: A Comparative Study between Baton Rouge and New Orleans
  • Louisiana Academy of the Sciences, Alexandria, LA, A Review of Cyber security in The United States: A Lesson for Developing Nations
  • Louisiana Academy of the Sciences, Alexandria, LA, Economic Inequality and Poverty: The United States in Comparative Perspective

Organizationsandaffiliations

  • New Leaders Council, Co-Director of the Board of Directors, previous chair of External Engagement Committee and former fellow, 2022-Present
  • Center for Educational Leadership, Educational Policy Leadership Fellow, 2023-2024
  • Miami University Alumni Columbus Chapter, Board of Directors, Present
  • Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), State Partnership Racial Equity Working group liaison and BIPOC caucus working group Co-Chair, Present
  • The Ohio Workforce Commission (OWC), Leadership Committee Member, 2021-2023
  • City of Cleveland, Youth and Safety Cabinet Partner, 2022-Present
  • New American Leadership Academy, Fellow, 2022
  • Nelson Mandela Institute for Research (NMIR), Co-Founder/President, 2018
  • Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA), Student Member, 2017-2022
  • Global Technology and Management Center, Research Scholar, 2017-2020
  • National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE), Member, 2017-2020
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons (NAACP), Student Member, 2014-2020

Publications

  • Pruitt, Tanisha, Nicholas-Omoregbe, Dr. Sharon, Bergdahl, Jacqueline, Omoregbe, Nicholas, Mbarika, Victor, PhD, Effects of Economic Inequality on Academic Achievement: The Black Boy Dilemma, EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education, Eurasia-2018-0419, Published
  • Mbah, R. E., Pruitt, T., Qasum, D. F., Cruel Choice: The Ethics and Morality of the Death Penalty, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 9, 24, 2224-5766
  • Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Femi Ekanoye, Tanisha Pruitt, Victor Mbarika, Gabriel Fagbeyiro, Jarrett Landor, Felicitas Aquegho, A Mixed Methods Inquiry into the Quality of Instructional Designs and Use of Moodle Learning Management Systems in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, American Journal of Education and Information Technology, 3, 1, 2019, 17-24, 10.11648/j.ajeit.20190301.14

Timeline

Research Consultant

The Boys and Young Men of Color Collective
12.2023 - 06.2024

Youth, Opportunity, and Education Researcher

Policy Matters Ohio
07.2023 - Current

State Policy Fellow

Policy Matters Ohio
07.2021 - 07.2023

Research Consultant

Crane R & D Research Firm
05.2020 - 08.2021

Research Interviewer

The Ohio State University
08.2019 - 02.2020

State Fellow

Office Of The Governor Of Louisiana
06.2018 - 08.2018

Corporate Research Fellow

Educational Testing Services
06.2017 - 08.2017

Political Affairs Intern

The Borgen Project
10.2016 - 04.2017

Graduate Research Assistant

Southern University Graduate School
02.2016 - 05.2020

Sociology Adjunct Faculty Member

Sinclair Community College
03.2015 - 06.2015

Administrative Support

Wright State University Graduate School Office
10.2014 - 12.2015

Doctor of Philosophy - Public Policy Program, International Development

Southern University And A&M College

Public Administration Course Certificate -

Louisiana State University Public Administration Institute

Master of Science - Applied Behavioral Science Program, Criminal Justice Reform and Education

Wright State University

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology, Family and Child Relationships

Miami University

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