Dr. Wehmah Jones is a Principal Researcher at AIR with over 18 years of experience designing, implementing and managing research projects that focus on improving the developmental, educational and health outcomes of youth and adult populations. Her areas of content expertise include youth development, school improvement, social and emotional learning, school climate, mental health and trauma, and health disparities. She has methodological expertise in program evaluation, implementation science, and qualitative and mixed-methods research design. In addition to her research and evaluation work, Dr. Jones provides tailored and universal technical assistance (TA), facilitation and resource development to various education and health related capacity building projects. Her TA expertise focuses on building district and school capacity to support students social and emotional development, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and foster safe, trauma-sensitive, and equitable learning environments. Dr. Jones also co-leads cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) capacity building at AIR and engages in comprehensive action planning, resource development, and organization-wide training to support the integration of CLC principles into all policies and practices. Prior to joining AIR, Dr. Jones worked as a Resident in Clinical Psychology, providing counseling and psychological and educational testing, and crisis intervention services to children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Jones has a Ph.D. and a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
As co-principal investigator, Jones co-leads Implementation study B focusing on the development of the equity-centered pipeline programs in each ECPI district form the initial theory of action through program implementation.