Dr. Talya D. Thomas, Associate Professor

Community Development and Housing Concentration

Biography

Dr. Talya D. Thomas is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, and is currently serving as the Coordinator of Graduate Writing Support, Division of Graduate Studies. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in public administration, planning, and policy. She currently teaches History of Planning, Politics of Planning in Local Government, Planning in Local Government, and Historic Preservation. With her passion being policy and planning, she is actively involved in various organizations that promote equalization of home ownership among African Americans, as well as promoting food security.

Dr. Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration along with her Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Community and Economic Development from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia. Her Doctoral Degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy with a concentration in Community Development and Housing was obtained at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas. Some of her research interests are: Transportation Policy, Historic Preservation, Community/Economic Development & Housing, Environmental & Public Policy, and Food Security. Her teaching Interests include; Public Administration, Public Policy and Politics, Principles of Community and Economic Development, Non-Profit Administration, Theory, History, and Practice in Community Development, Sustainable Communities, Citizen Participation in Planning Processes, and U.S. Housing, Planning and Policy.

Dr. Thomas has received numerous awards for her dedicated service as well as written articles that were published in several journals and books.

To see more of the selected content below, Download CV.

Publications and Manuscripts

Thomas, T.D., and J. L. Murphy. (2019). Political Impact on Emergency Management Processes. International Journal of Current Research, 11(4), pp.2741-2744.

Thomas, Talya D., and S. Nicole Diggs. (Submitted). A Critical Investigation of Tenure and Promotion Processes: What factors hold women back in Academia? PPM Special Issue Proposal: Inclusion in Public Sector Workplaces: Integrating Theory and Practice.

Presentations

Presenter/Attendee at Princeton Alliance for Collaborative Research and Innovation (RACRI): Sustaining Black History through a Regenerative Future: The Margaret walker Center at JSU (February 2024)
Presenter/Attendee at Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA) a poster presentation titled “The Life, The Legacy-Margaret Walker Alexander” (February 2024)
Attendee at the 50th Anniversary-Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival, Jackson, MS (November 2023)
Presenter/Attendee at JSU Research Engagement Week, Jackson, MS a poster presentation titled “The Life, The Legacy-Margaret Walker Alexander” (October 2023)
Presenter/Attendee at MS/AL American Planning Association Fall Conference, Starkville, MS, Mississippi’s Only Planning Graduate Program-Jackson State University (October 2023)

Grants Awards Funded

Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center-An Impact of the Agricultural Act of 2014 on Mississippi’s Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (2017)-$171,600 (Co-PI)
W.K. Kellogg Foundation-Jobs to Move America (JMA); (2022)-$35,656.00 (Co-PI)
Princeton Alliance for Collaborative Research and Innovation (RACRI): Sustaining Black History through a Regenerative Future: The Margaret walker Center at JSU (2023)-$140,113.58 (Co-PI)

Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)-National Planning Committee, Poster Competition Chair (February 2024)

Collaborative Community Engagement Research Project-The University of New Orleans, Department of Planning & Urban Studies (September 2023 to Present)

Guest Speaker: Graduate Student Appreciation Week (Research Symposium, April 2023)

Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)-Poster Competition Chair (March 2023)

Jackson State University Junior Faculty Mentoring Program-Mentor (2022-2023)
Other Research, Service, and Awards
Corresponding Secretary/Technology Chair/ Community Service Chair/ Member -Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (1985 to 1997; 2013 to Present)

Assistant Director, Derrick Thomas Foundation (2000 to Present)

1st Vice President/Treasurer/Member – Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (2003 to Present)

Corresponding Secretary/Member – Mississippi Chapter Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association (2016 to Present)

Mentor Program/Member – National Forum for Black Public Administrators (2003 to Present)
Professional Memberships
Certificate in Effective Teaching Practice Framework-2023. The Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education

Pardee RAND Graduate School Faculty Leaders Program- Summer 2023

Certificate in Equity & Urban Development-2023. The Payne Center for Social Justice

NIH Training/Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Summer Institute, 2021 California State University, Long Beach

Canvas Training-2020, Instructor Certification
Professional Trainings (Certifications and Certificates)