Renee Johnson-Thornton

Renee Johnson-Thornton is a Senior Program Associate and Associate Director of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Renee has over 25 years of experience in designing and implementing programs to support the academic success of underrepresented minority students, with a focus on recruitment, retention, and curriculum development.

Johnson-Thornton began their career in higher education as a Recruitment Counselor for the NYC Office of Student Recruitment at the State University of New York. In this role, they advised high school students and their families on college planning and assisted with the application process. Renee also developed relationships with high schools and community-based organizations to increase awareness of SUNY programs and opportunities.

In 1995, Johnson-Thornton took on the role of Project Coordinator for the United Technologies/Trinity College Engineering Initiative (UTCEI) at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The UTCEI was a program designed to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities in engineering fields. Johnson-Thornton was responsible for all aspects of the program, from recruitment and curriculum development to financial management and program evaluation. Renee also coordinated the UTCEI Scholars' Program and the UTCEI Summer Research Fellowship, delivered presentations to students and community groups, supervised work-study employees and research teams, and monitored the academic performance of enrolled engineering students.

In their current role at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,

Renee Johnson-Thornton received their PhD in Education from the University of Rhode Island. Renee also has a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University, and a Bachelor's degree in English (Literature & Rhetoric) and African-American/Black Studies from Binghamton University.

Renee Johnson-Thornton works with Logan Heiman - Program Associate, Daniel Kent - Program Associate, Research, and Camilla Somers - Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Planning. Their manager is Phillip Brian Harper, Program Director, Higher Learning.