Dr. Jennifer K. Young Wallace ’91 has been elected president of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) for the 2025-2026 term. She makes history as the fifth African American to be elected as national president of ATE in its 104-year history and as the first president elected who is a graduate and employee of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

According to ATE, it was founded in 1920 and is the only national, individual membership organization devoted solely to improving teacher education for school—and campus-based teacher educators. Today, ATE members represent nearly 1500 teacher educators in colleges, universities, school districts, and state education agencies within 41 regional and state-affiliated units and U.S. territories.

“I am deeply honored to be elected President of a national educator’s organization,” said Wallace. “I’m thankful to the ATE membership for electing me to such an honorable position. I am excited about my team of educators from higher education institutions in America.”

Wallace has chosen the following theme and educational strands for her year as president —  “Empowering a Global Community of Educators to Leave a STAMP on Education: Social Emotional Learning, Transformational Leadership, Advocacy, Multiculturalism, and Professional-Practices.”  Her theme was inspired by the present educational trends that encompass not only her research but the research of a multitude of teacher educators in the world.  She has laid out the groundwork for her commissions, task forces, and initiatives, as the work has begun while she serves on ATE’s Board as 1st vice president, awaiting her time to receive the gavel as president in March 2025 in New Orleans, La. from present president, Cheryl Torrez, University of New Mexico.  

She is a tenured associate professor/coordinator of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program for the College of Education and Human Development at Jackson State University. She was elected chair of the university’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 2021-2023, where she presided over curriculum changes and modifications for all degrees at the university; Faculty Senate treasurer, 2023-2024; Appeals Committee chair, 2022-2023.  

Wallace received a bachelor’s degree in English/journalism from pg电子下载 State University, a master’s degree in counseling from Jackson State, a master’s degree in English education from Mississippi College, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational administration from Jackson State. She also completed a two-year Bible training class from Word of Life Ministries.  

She has served as keynote speaker for national organizations and conferences, as well as for collegiate and high school graduations; she has presented her research on leadership and educational trends at numerous national conferences. She has over 20 publications in national journals, encyclopedias, and books. She has reviewed numerous educational books, and her reviews are published on the back cover. And has written the foreword or afterword for several books published by renowned educational publishing companies. She serves on a national educational research team that presents their work nationwide.

In addition, Wallace has served on numerous committees/task forces for the Mississippi Department of Education, focusing on teacher preparation. She holds numerous K-12 educator licensures, including principal administration, counseling, English, and psychometry. She has received numerous local, state, and national awards for her dedication to education and community.

She served on the national board of the Association of Teacher Educators (2019-2022), where she worked on the organization’s sustainability. Other board memberships include the Margaret Walker Alexander National Center Board as secretary and the Precious Children Mobile Mission Board as vice president.  She chaired a national committee, the Legislative Government Relations Committee for the Association of Teacher Educators.  She served a 3-year term on the Advocacy Committee for the American Association for College Teachers of Education as one of seven professors in the nation elected to the committee.  

She is married to Michael A. Wallace and is the daughter of Mr. Learnear and Mrs. Mattie L. Young of Cruger, Miss. She enjoys spending time with her family and her sister, Wendolyn Young. Overall, Dr. Wallace is thankful that God has given her a Spirit of giving, serving, and sharing. She is passionate about education and considers her engagement as an Educational Ministry.  

For more information about  ATE, go to www.ate1.org.