Dr. Tina D. Pierce

Dr. Tina D. Pierce is a servant leader who empowers individuals to create positive transformative change in their communities. She is serving her first term as a proud member of the Columbus Board of Education having been elected in 2019. Dedicated to advancing equity and student achievement, Dr. Pierce serves as the Chair of the Academic Policy & Accountability Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Climate & Culture Policy Committee (Ad Hoc). Her work and advocacy are rooted in community engagement as reflected in her role as a member of the Governance Policy & Advocacy Committee and the Public Engagement & External Communications Committee (Ad Hoc).

She is a program manager in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University responsible for developing strategic initiatives and programs, as well as general administrative oversight for the professional development unit. An experienced program director with a strong background in leadership development and civic engagement initiatives, she directs POWER (Programs for Ohio Women Empowered to Represent), which aims to increase the impact of women in politics and advance women’s leadership through national, regional, and local events and programs for women officeholders, candidates, and campaign operatives. Dr. Pierce is frequently called upon by the media for information and comments, and she speaks to a variety of audiences across the country on topics related to women’s political participation and education.

After spending over a decade in higher education she established WORTH (Working Through Obstacles Reaching True Heights), an education consulting company that provides evidence-based training and programs to cultivate leadership and increase civic engagement. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the WORTH Foundation (Working Through Obstacles Reaching True Heights Foundation), a non-profit fostering community engagement through civic education and leadership development. Prior to establishing WORTH and the WORTH Foundation, Dr. Pierce was the Assistant Director of the Young Scholars Program at The Ohio State University, which is nationally recognized for improving pre-college preparation, retention, and degree completion among academically talented, low-income, first-generation students. An experienced educator and interdisciplinary scholar, she taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Denison University in the Center for Black Studies, Department of Political Science, and Department of Women’s Studies. Her courageous spirit and passion for building bridges between the university and its surrounding community led to new efforts and courses encouraging mentorship, experiential and service learning. In addition to her extensive experience in higher education, Dr. Pierce built partnerships to promote community engagement as the Director of Volunteer Resources at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, administering youth and adult volunteer programs while managing a federally funded mentoring program for children of prisoners. With more than 20 years of teaching, advising, and research experience she has garnered a reputation as a highly effective facilitator empowering people who desire lifelong opportunities and a voice in their communities.

Passionate about community service, Dr. Pierce is the President of The Ohio State University Undergraduate Student Government Alumni Society. She has received several honors including The Ohio State University Alumni Association Pay It Forward Award for Volunteerism. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science with a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in College and University Teaching; a Master of Arts in Political Science; a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences with Distinction in Political Science; and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with Distinction in African American and African Studies. A lifelong resident of Columbus, she attended Columbus City Schools graduating from Beechcroft High School. Dr. Pierce and her husband, Andrew Pierce Sr., have four children Andrew II, Malcolm, Catherine, and Michelle.