Natasha McClendon
Natasha McClendon is a Senior Research Associate for UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI) working on the longitudinal study for the Student Freedom Initiative. She worked as a Community Data & Research Analyst prior to joining UNCF, focusing on continuous improvement and alignment of resources to make evidence-based decisions. Natasha also worked as a Field Researcher recruiting participants and collecting qualitative data for their “Under the Scope” study on middle school science fair impacts.
Natasha earned her master’s degree in Sociology from American University in 2012 and will earn her PhD in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University. Her research has focused on Black college student experiences in relation to STEM retention and support, performance-based funding, and student success. She is dedicated to honoring Black Intellectual Traditions through her research of higher education and Black students’ experiences.