Natasha K. McClendon, Ph.D., is an imaginative and curious researcher dedicated to critical inquiry and community-serving solutions. She earned her master’s degree in sociology from American University in 2012 and her Ph.D. in educational policy studies from Georgia State University. With over 15 years of experience in research with a focus on STEM student success, Dr. McClendon has leveraged her expertise in research, technical assistance, and evaluation to impact educational initiatives and outcomes that utilize data and community-engaged research.
Prior to coming to Spelman College, she served as a senior research associate for UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI), where she managed the HBCU Effect research portfolio. This initiative aimed to provide insights into the impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on Black students, alumni, and their communities. Her research has focused on Black college student experiences related to STEM retention and support, state and federal performance-based funding, and student success, employing Black Intellectual Traditions and Black Aesthetics as analytical lenses.
Dr. McClendon has consulted on educational policy issues across the P-20 spectrum at district, state, and federal levels. Her original research also explores the aesthetic impact of policy on post-secondary student success. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand the narrative of data storytelling by employing innovative methodological, theoretical, and analytical approaches, including creative presentations of findings through multimodal formats and artistic interactive learning workshops.
Her goal is to empower communities to use data to tell more holistic and representative stories about their identities and aspirations. As the new director of the Center of Excellence for Black Women in STEM, Dr. McClendon continues to advocate for the advancement and recognition of Black women in the field, and research addressing the systemic inequities that persist in STEM and education.