Tami Christopher

Program Manager, Student 5.0

tami.christopher@readyCT.org

Tami joined ReadyCT in 2020 at the outset of the Student 5.0 program. In her role as program manager, Tami works with the senior team to lead program strategy, design, and assessment; collaborates with state agency and community-based partners; and oversees program staff. Tami believes that continuous program improvement, integrating perspectives from internal and external stakeholders, and the team’s ongoing professional development are crucial to the success of this work. 

Prior to her role at ReadyCT, Tami served in direct service and leadership roles in higher education and nonprofit organizations focused on serving traditionally marginalized populations. Most recently, as deputy director of research and policy at CT Voices for Children, Tami redeveloped the Associate Research and Policy Fellowship program and revitalized the CT College and Career Readiness Alliance, a statewide initiative. As a doctoral resident, Tami worked with Our Piece of the Pie (Hartford, CT), assisting the leadership and direct service teams in developing an organizational coherence strategy related to college and career readiness programming for disengaged youth. Previous experience also includes serving as director of the Middlesex Community College Meriden Center and collaborating with districts and legislators on developmental education policy reform and concurrent college enrollment programming.

Tami earned a doctorate of educational leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education 28 years after beginning her college journey at Tunxis Community College (Farmington, CT). She holds a BA in English from Central Connecticut State University, an MS in secondary education from the University of Bridgeport, and an MA in American and New England studies from the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Meriden, CT, with her two children, two dogs, and 10 chickens.

“I was not a good student in high school; there was a lot going on in my family. Although I was told college was the path, I didn’t know why or to what end. It took me nine years to earn a four-year degree after beginning at community college and working retail and restaurant jobs full time. Everyone has barriers and everyone deserves support to navigate these challenges. No one should foreclose on a dream because of their demographics. I believe that students of all ages should have the access, opportunity, and support to create a future of their own design.”