For the past 17 years, Dia L. Jones has worked as a teacher, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal of School Culture in the School District of Philadelphia. As a founding member of Mastery School’s Pickett Campus, she co-facilitated an 80% decrease in serious incidents in the first year, helped proficient and advanced math scores increase by 70% and proficient and advanced reading scores increase by 49%.

In addition to creating many academic opportunities for her students, Dia’s passion for the past several years has been to introduce students to STEM programs and opportunities throughout the country. Dia has worked with partners including Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Miami Dolphins, National Geographic, the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Navy, National Association of Black Engineers, the Yankee Organization to have students work in internships, complete projects, and attend workshops and conferences in STEM. As a Program Manager with Columbia University for their Girls in STEM program, Dia worked with a large team of people to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields across the nation. She and her team worked with several hundred participants and partner organizations to help students pursue their dreams of working in STEM.

Dia earned her B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma, an M.Ed. from Temple University, and an Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from American University. Her qualitative study examined social and emotional supports adolescent Black girls need to remain motivated to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.