Biography

Gaëtane Jean-Marie, Ph.D., is Dean of the College of Education and Professor of Educational Leadership at Rowan University. Prior to joining Rowan in 2019, she served as Dean of the College of Education and Richard O. Jacobson Endowed Chair of Leadership in Education at the University of Northern Iowa. Her previous leadership experience includes serving as department chair and co-director of the Center for Educational Research, Policy and Evaluation at the University of Louisville. She has also held research fellowships with several educational policy and research centers. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rutgers University and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Jean-Marie’s scholarship focuses on educational equity and social justice in P–12 schools, women and leadership across P–20 systems, and leadership development and preparation in national and global contexts. She has authored or co-authored more than 90 publications, including books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles, and has secured millions of dollars in grants and contracts. She serves as Series Editor of Studies in Educational Administration (Emerald Publishing) and Immediate Past Chair of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). Her national and international service includes leadership and advisory roles with the Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions (CADREI), the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and numerous professional and editorial boards.

Dr. Jean-Marie has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership, scholarship, and service. Most recently, she received the Diamond Award for National Leadership in Educational Equity and Innovation (2026) from The Not Alone Foundation and Academy of the Diamond Awards and was named among ROI Influencers: Higher Education by ROI-NJin 2024, 2025, and 2026. Her other recent honors include the Woman of Achievement Award (2024) from Scouting America–Garden State Council and the Candace Woman of Achievement in Education Award (2024) from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Southern New Jersey Chapter. Earlier distinctions include the Distinguished Career Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the inaugural Janet McClain Legacy Award at the University of Northern Iowa.

Since joining Rowan, her leadership has advanced academic program development, doctoral education, research and external funding, educator workforce pipelines and registered apprenticeships, and school and community partnerships. Central to her work is a commitment to expanding educational opportunity, fostering student and faculty success, and preparing the next generation of educators and educational leaders.