174. Serving OurSelves, Serving Our Community with Dr. Jonli Tunstall

At a time when our students need to be affirmed now more than ever, we continue our love series titled, “Relationships That Matter” with Dr. Jonli Tunstall, Director of Pre-College and Summer Programs at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After serving in this department for the past 20 years, Dr. Tunstall joins us to share how her department serves as a safe space for students of diverse backgrounds and learning styles. In this holistic environment of diverse learners, find out how students are affirmed through various panels and mentoring experiences that help students bond with one another and empower them to pay it forward by serving their own communities. ⁠ Dr. Tunstall received both her Ph.D. in Education with an Urban Schooling concentration and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at UCLA. In her current role as a member of the senior leadership team in the Academic Advancement Program (AAP), Dr. Tunstall oversees several programs and initiatives that work with first-generation, low income, and historically underrepresented students. She directs two programs as part of the AAP team: VIP Scholars, a social justice college access program, and the Freshman and Transfer Summer Program. Dr. Tunstall is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the African American Studies and Education Department. In addition to these roles, she is the co-founder of Sister to Sister, which addresses the specific needs around the retention and socialization of Black women at Historically White Institutions. To learn more about her work, connect with her on LinkedIn.