Ngozi J. Kamau M.C.
Associate Director for Research and Evaluation,
Rice University School Mathematics Project
Ngozi grew up in Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Delaware, received her Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University in 1979 (Sociology) and her Masters degree from the Department of Education (Agency Counseling) at the University of Delaware in 1983. She is currently working on her dissertation at Temple University (Department of African American Studies) in Philadelphia, PA. Her thesis is titled "Race, Culture and Academic Achievement" and assesses the impact of race/cultural match versus race/cultural mis-match between student and teacher on student achievement. It explores the historical and current academic achievement gaps in the American public school system through racial, cultural, legislative, social and pedagogical lenses. The quantitative aspect of the study involves a sample of Houston-area high school students and their teachers.
She began her career in research and evaluation in 1991. Interspersed with research, she gained nearly a decade of enlightening experiences while teaching on demographically diverse university campuses across the country. Ngozi taught courses that ranged from American History and African American Literature to Counseling and Case-management Theories and Crisis in Identity. Her interest in teaching was a natural progression from thirteen years of enriching opportunities as a mental health counselor, specializing in addiction and domestic violence. Community education and professional development training became her favorite activities. She expresses gratitude for the privilege of performing educational analyses with stellar colleagues over the last seven-plus years. Ngozi worked with the Houston Independent School District's Department of Research and Accountability for over six years before joining the Rice University School Mathematics Project in September 2007.
On a personal note: She feels very blessed to have a dedicated and loving mother; a great and creative husband; a precious, creatively honest and humorous son; beautiful and beloved "daughters" (from wonderful other-mothers); and delightfully supportive in-laws, brothers and sister - who are truly her guiding lights. Ngozi's hobbies include spiritual development activities, watching TV & movies, reading and crafting jewelry.