Jamel Gardner is a marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience across higher education and nonprofit direct-service organizations. He grew up in Chicago, where limited access to resources was a consistent and defining challenge. That early experience shaped his commitment to equity, access, and community-centered solutions, and continues to inform his professional work.

For five years, Jamel led marketing and communications efforts at Kennedy-King College, where he supported enrollment and admissions growth through strategic messaging and outreach aimed at students historically underrepresented in higher education. Most recently, he worked at Prevention First Inc., helping to develop statewide communications campaigns focused on substance abuse prevention for schools across Illinois.

Jamel is excited to lead communications efforts for Teacher-Powered Schools, supporting the organization’s mission to empower educators and advance teacher-led, student-centered learning models nationwide. He brings a values-driven approach to storytelling that centers practitioners and communities closest to the impact.

He currently resides in the South Suburbs of Illinois with his wife and their four children.