Tiyacca Simms-Jones
Ph.D. Student, School of Education (December 2026)
Program Area: Educational Leadership, Policy, and Justice
Education
- Ph.D. in Education, Virginia Commonwealth University (December 2026)
- Ed.D., Higher Education Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University
- M.Ed., Adult Learning, Virginia Commonwealth University
- B.I.S., Psychology and Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
- A.G.S., General Studies, Strayer University, Richmond, VA
Line of Research
My line of research explores the relationships between race, gender, leadership, and education in community-based organizations. I investigate how community organizations can build better educational infrastructures and programming for the development of successful African-American women leaders.
Research and Scholarship
- Research and Scholarship entries to be listed here
Bio
Born and raised in Richmond, VA, Tiyacca was encouraged early on to pursue higher education. She is a Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University. On her non-traditional path through education, she has held several positions that provided her with phenomenal mentors who encouraged her to strive toward her goals. Tiyacca currently serves as the Associate Director of Psychology Advising and Graduate Academic Operations for the Department of Psychology. In this position, she seeks to create academic spaces that support student development, leadership, cultural identity, and mental health.
What does the Holmes Scholars Program mean to you?
The Holmes Scholar program brings together like-minded individuals who strive to make a difference in their community. I strive to be in spaces where my humanity is accepted, my identity is respected, and my mind is challenged. The Holmes Scholar Program offers that space to its participants.