Tamara E. Brooks

About Tamara E. Brooks

A student success and retention leader with demonstrated experience advancing access, persistence, and degree completion for first-generation, EOF, and historically underrepresented students across public higher education.Currently leading and contributing to institution-wide advising strategy, retention initiatives, curriculum design, budget oversight, and cross-campus partnerships, this work reflects director-ready leadership grounded in equity-driven practice, systems-level thinking, and student-centered outcomes.Professional experience spans EOF, academic success and retention, and transfer student support, with strengths in program development, staff mentorship, and holistic advising that integrates academic, career, and leadership pathways.Seeking a senior-level opportunity (Director, Associate Director, Executive Director, or Assistant Dean) to scale impact, lead teams, and strengthen institutional student success and retention efforts.

Experience

1. Senior Eof Counselor

   Rutgers University Newark

   May 2023 — Present

   Direct a tri-departmental team of professional staff to execute a campus-wide Graduate School Blitz, expanding graduate education access and readiness for first-generation students-Strategically develop and implement Academic Support initiatives in Math, Science, and English, resulting in measurable improvements in academic performance, retention, and persistence among EOF scholars-Forge cross-departmental partnerships with TRIO and graduate access programs, aligning institutional resources to increase graduate school enrollment for underrepresented populations-Deliver holistic academic, career, financial, and personal advising to a caseload of 150+ students, applying data-informed strategies to promote student progression and completion-Oversee programming and engagement for 250 sophomore and junior EOF students, leading the planning, coordination, and promotion of co-curricular experiences, conferences, workshops, and student leadership events that enhanced sense of belonging and success outcomes-Manage and allocate a $14K program budget to support graduate entrance exam preparation (GMAT, GRE, LSAT), ensuring equitable access and maximizing return on institutional investment in student achievement-Design and facilitate a 12-week “Strategies for Academic Success” course for first-year students, integrating academic skill development, college transition strategies, and student success frameworks-Supervise and mentor a team of 5 tutors and 2 work-study staff, providing professional development, performance oversight, and ensuring operational excellence in student learning support services.

Education

• Montclair State University

  Bachelor of Arts, Child Advocacy and Policy

• Montclair State University

  Bachelor of Arts, Leadership Development through Civic Engagement

• Montclair State University

  Master of Arts, Educational Leadership; concentration in Higher Education