A. Joseph Tamer
QUALIFICATIONS & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Education & Interdisciplinary Perspective
I hold two master’s degrees; one in Curriculum Design & Instructional Technology, and another in Molecular Biology. These complement my undergraduate study in ecology, world religions, environmental policy, and management. My education reflects the breadth of my career: science and research alongside curriculum and technology, with sustained interest in culture, ethics, and the ways different disciplines inform one another. That breadth helps me approach institutional questions from multiple perspectives.
Independent-School & Senior Leadership
I bring 14 years of independent-school experience as a teacher, advisor, coach, residential educator, Dean of Students, and Residential Life Director, including service on senior leadership teams at Marianapolis and Rancho Solano. Over the following decade at ASU, my responsibilities expanded from business operations to executive leadership of a multidisciplinary educational organization, while my work continued to engage schools, educators, and students nationwide.
Strategic Planning, Faculty Leadership & Advancement
My career combines the three leadership areas St. Margaret’s identifies directly. I have developed multiyear strategic and financial plans, recruited and developed educators and professional staff, and helped secure more than $35M in funding from NASA, NSF, and the Gates Foundation. I also led the development of CourseWorks to diversify revenue, creating a sustainable model that reinvests earned income in educational programs, research, and technology.
Communication, Judgment & Decision-Making
I have communicated with students, families, faculty, staff, Boards, university leaders, scientists, funders, and community partners throughout my career. As responsibilities increased, so did the complexity of the decisions: staffing, budgets, organizational structures, partnerships, and competing priorities. I try to listen carefully, explain the reasoning behind decisions, distinguish evidence from assumption, and communicate difficult choices directly while remaining attentive to their impact on people.
Inclusive Communities & Episcopal Mission Alignment
My commitment to inclusive communities has been shaped by teaching students from varied backgrounds and partnering with educators whose perspectives differ from my own. I studied World Religions, taught the subject at Marianapolis, created a non-denominational youth ministry program at Emma Willard, and have supported Muslim students through Iftar gatherings at Fay. These experiences align naturally with an Episcopal tradition that welcomes diverse faiths while emphasizing character, service, and community.
Fundraising, Governance & Board Partnership
I have helped secure more than $35M in sponsored and philanthropic funding while cultivating relationships with NASA, NSF, Gates, and other partners. I have worked with the ASU Foundation on major philanthropic proposals and donor engagement and partnered with Boards and advisory leaders on strategy and resources. At Marianapolis, I worked directly with the Board during institutional renewal; at ETX and CourseWorks, I have developed governance structures that connect strategy, accountability, and sustainable investment.