A. Joseph Tamer
DESIRED QUALITIES
Systems Thinking
I see educational challenges as interconnected rather than isolated. At Marianapolis, enrollment growth required coordinated decisions about admissions, residential staffing, faculty housing, facilities, and student experience. At ETX, that perspective expanded to complex portfolios where people, budgets, technology, partnerships, and academic priorities continually affect one another. I try to understand those connections before acting on any one part.
Outstanding Communication
Communication has been central to my work as a teacher, administrator, presenter, and organizational leader. I have explained complex science to students, facilitated professional learning with educators, presented research nationally, and translated financial and technical issues for institutional leaders. During organizational change, I communicate candidly and consistently, adapting the message to the audience while making sure people understand both the decision and its rationale.
Relationship Cultivation
Many of the opportunities I value most grew from relationships sustained over years rather than individual transactions. Partnerships with NASA scientists, school leaders, university faculty, funders, and community educators developed through listening, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through. I try to understand what matters to others first, build trust through the work itself, and look for places where different interests can become genuinely shared priorities.
Mission Alignment
My career has been shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to work alongside others. I have moved between classrooms, dormitories, research teams, workshops, and executive leadership without losing my interest in the work itself or the people doing it. I enjoy asking questions, exploring possibilities, and helping good ideas become achievable plans. That combination of rigorous thinking, optimism, relationships, and hands-on engagement strongly reflects what draws me to NMH.
Commitment to Equity
My commitment to equity has been shaped by working directly with students and educators whose opportunities and experiences differ widely. Teaching Loyola Academy scholars, collaborating with Native Hawaiian educators, and studying outcomes through HHMI Inclusive Excellence and REAL CHEM taught me to look beyond institutional averages and ask who benefits, who may be underserved, and whose knowledge or perspective is missing from the work.
Vision with Humility
I have helped lead ambitious efforts in curriculum, technology, and organizational change, but experience has made me cautious about arriving with predetermined answers. The NSF STEM Futures curriculum workshop that I organized reinforced the value of bringing people together around shared questions before designing solutions. I try to lead with a point of view while remaining curious enough to change it: listening first, learning the context, and involving the people closest to the work in shaping what comes next.