JoNathan Collins - RISE - Virginia Commonwealth University

Phone: (804) 828-2224
Email: risestwk5@vcu.edu

JoNathan Collins serves as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Research Institute for Social Equity (RISE) at Virginia Commonwealth University. Collins also serves as the Legislative and Member Services Director for the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, where he helps develop and advance the caucus’s legislative agenda. Collins professional experience spans legislative strategy, policy research, political communications, and public service, with a particular focus on strengthening government institutions and advancing policies that better serve historically underserved communities.

JoNathan is also a Ph.D. student in Public Policy and Administration at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Collins earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Communication Studies from Alabama A&M University. Collins' research interests center on equity in K-12 education, particularly the structural and institutional factors that contribute to disparities in educational opportunities for historically marginalized communities. Through his research, Collins seeks to explore how public policy can address systemic barriers and promote more equitable access to educational resources and opportunities.