Charles M. Payne directs the Cornwall Center and is the Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of African American Studies. His interests include urban education and school reform, social inequality, social change and modern African American history. His books include So Much Reform, So Little Change, (Harvard Education Publishing Group, 2008) which examines the persistence of failure...
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Charity Anderson is a Senior Research Associate at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies and academic director of the Clemente Veterans’ Initiative Newark, a humanities course focused on themes of war and reconciliation for veterans and civilians. Charity is a former New York City Teaching Fellow and high school teacher; she taught in...
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Marcus hails from Columbus, Ohio. He received a BA in Political Science from Miami University, earned a MA in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University, and a PhD in the Urban Systems program at Rutgers-Newark. Marcus has worked in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) and served variously as a teacher, as subject...
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Nazsa Baker is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. In her role, Nazsa primarily works on the Targeted Neighborhood Initiative with Dr. Michael Simmons. She is currently obtaining a PhD candidate in the Urban Systems with a concentration in Urban Health at Rutgers School of Nursing. Nazsa’s dissertation...
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Vandeen Campbell is an Assistant Research Professor and Senior Quantitative Director at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies and the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers University – Newark. Dr. Campbell was formerly the Director of the Office of Research, Evaluation and Program Support (REPS) at the City University of New York (CUNY),...
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Shanequa Evans serves as the Program Coordinator of the Promise Youth University – Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. Prior to joining the Cornwall Center, Shanequa served as Assistant Director of the Complete for Life – Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC, and...
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Marquise Guzman serves as the Associate Director of Neighborhood Partnerships for the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. Prior to joining the Cornwall Center, Marquise served several different capacities with the Paterson Community Schools Corps (PCSC), AmeriCorps program. As an AmeriCorps Member with the PCSC, Marquise provided school day enrichment supports and developed youth...
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Jamelia Harris is an educational research analyst and consultant with expertise on race, gender, school climate, and discipline. Jamelia has supported schools, districts, and organizations with research-based professional developments, including a forthcoming American Education Research Grant funded service project entitled, “She Can’t Breathe: Black Girls in the Intersection of COVID-19 and #SayHerName.” Jamelia’s current research agenda...
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Betsy Kim is a Robert Curvin Postdoctoral Associate at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. She completed a Ph.D. in Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University in Feb. 2020. Her dissertation entitled Mixed Messages: School Choice and Spanish Dual Language Programs in the New York City Department of Education explores how Latinx...
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Alyssa B. King has worked on the Rutgers University-Newark since November 2015. She began as a Clerical Assistant and was promoted to her current position as Business Assistant of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. In the past, Alyssa has served on council boards servicing academia and its surrounding communities. In her undergraduate career, she served as...
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Kimaada Sills is an Associate Director at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies. Ms. Sills has been with the Center since 2012 and has years of experience working in social services, resource development, and youth development programs. She oversees the operations of the Cornwall Center’s growing staff and budget. In her eight years...
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Michael Simmons has more than ten years of experience in community development and criminal justice policy. Prior to joining the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, Dr. Simmons served as director of the Augusta, Georgia, Weed and Seed Initiative, and later as a researcher for the University of New Orleans Center for Law and...
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Ahmad received his BA in Information Systems from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing an MBA in Analytics and Information Technology at Rutgers University. Ahmad has worked in Newark Public Schools (NPS) as both a Family Advocate and Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator. During his tenure at NPS, he was instrumental in supporting families by...
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Irene Welch is the Administrative Assistant for the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, Rutgers University-Newark. As the administrative assistant, she is a major part of the Cornwall Center’s day-to-day operations. Ms. Welch is responsible for the general administrative support of the Center, including coordinating logistics for meetings, special events, and travel. Prior to...
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