Biography

Gaëtane Jean-Marie, Ph.D., is dean of the College of Education and professor of Educational Leadership at Rowan University. Prior to that, she was dean of the College of Education and Richard 0. Jacobson Endowed Chair of Leadership in Education at the University of Northern Iowa.  Her experiences include serving as department chair and co-director of the Center for Educational Research, Policy and Evaluation (CERPE) at the University of Louisville. She has also been a research fellow with several policy and research centers including the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy (OCEP) and K-20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal at the University of Oklahoma, Center for Urban Education and Innovation at Florida International University, and the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD). She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Rutgers, The State University, and her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.

Dr. Jean-Marie’s research focuses on educational equity and social justice in P–12 schools, women and leadership in the P-20 system, and leadership development and preparation in a global context.  She has over 90 publications which include books, book chapters, and academic articles in peer-reviewed journals, and procured over $5.9 million in grants and contracts.  She is the editor of Studies in Educational Administration Series (Emerald Publishing) and serves on numerous advisory boards including chair of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) board, member on the Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions (CADREI) and former at-large member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU). She’s on the editorial board member of the Journal of School Leadership and international advisory board member of the Bloomsbury’s Race, Ethnicity, and Belonging in Education Series and formerly the Journal of Educational Administration.  

Over the years, she has been acknowledged for her research and teaching excellence, and service leadership in addition to receiving professional honors.  In 2024, she received the Woman of Achievement Award for Gloucester County from Scouting America - Garden State Council (SA - GSC), recognized as New Jersey ROI Influencers: Higher Education and Candace Woman of Achievement in Education from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Southern New Jersey Chapter. Other recognitions include serving as the commencement speaker for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony (2019) at her alma mater, UNCG and recipient of the Distinguished Career Alumni Award, School of Education, UNCG (2017), the inaugural Janet McClain Legacy Award, UMETT Program (2017) at UNI, the Exemplary Leadership Award, Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity, CODRE (2016), President’s Office at UofL, the Excellence in Leadership by the Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, KY (2016) and other notable recognitions.

Since joining the College of Education at Rowan University in 2019, she has led a vibrant community of scholars, students, and staff members who are committed to meeting the toughest challenges in education and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rich in tradition and focused on innovation and impact for a hundred years, her college is devoted to preparing tomorrow’s educators and serving the needs of the community. In sum, focused and energetic, she enjoys being in and around educational settings as a leader, researcher, observer, facilitator, mentor, and teacher.