Jijun Zhang Ph.d.

Jijun Zhang, Ph.D., PMP has a diverse work experience spanning several organizations and roles. Starting in 1995 as a Lecturer at Shandong University of Technology, they taught in the Foreign Language Department until 2001. In 2002, they worked as a Graduate Assistant at Murray State University's Center for Gifted Studies, where they assisted with organizing events and coordinating gifted programs. From 2003 to 2009, they served as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Maryland's College of Education Dean's Office, assisting with accreditation activities and training programs for international administrators.

In 2009, Zhang joined the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and held various roles. They started as a Research Analyst, collaborating with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) staff on indicator reports and conducting statistical analysis. As a Senior Researcher, they were tasked with managing aspects of the publication cycle for the congressionally mandated report, The Condition of Education, and providing support for NCES participation in the interagency America's Children Project.

Zhang then became a Project Director for the NCES Statistical Standards and Data Confidentiality (SSDC) project, where they directed AIR staff in providing methodological and statistical support to NCES and led training workshops on statistical standards. In their most recent role as a Principal Researcher and Project Director, Zhang managed a large-scope, multi-million-dollar federal contract Annual Reports and Information Staff (ARIS) project. They led the development of high-profile publications by NCES and conducted in-depth analytical studies using data from large-scale surveys and assessments.

Throughout their career, Zhang has demonstrated strong leadership skills, project management expertise, and a commitment to conducting research and producing high-quality publications.

Jijun Zhang, Ph.D., PMP has a strong education background in the field of education policy and administration. Jijun started their educational journey in 2001 by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in School Administration from Murray State University. Following this, from 2003 to 2009, they pursued a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education Policy Studies from the University of Maryland. As part of their doctoral studies, they also completed a Certificate in Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation, consisting of 24 credit hours, from the same institution in 2006.

In 2010, Jijun Zhang attended the Institute for Educational Leadership, where they participated in the Educational Policy Fellowship Program as a Fellow.

To enhance their professional skills, Jijun Zhang obtained the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute in November 2018.