Matthew Jacobs

Matthew Jacobs has a diverse work experience, starting with their current role as a Project Admin and Lead Data Analyst at the Illinois State Board of Education since September 2020. Before that, they worked as the Head of Social Sciences at Bard Early College High School at The Houde Academy Shenzhen from January 2018 to August 2020. Matthew also served as a Communications Instructor at the Communication University of China from September 2015 to January 2019. Additionally, they worked as a Professional Language Instructor at Chr. Hansen from February 2016 to January 2018 and as a Social Science Instructor at the University of Colorado Denver at China Agricultural University from August 2015 to January 2018. Further, they were a Program Developer and Course Instructor at Schwarzman Scholars from August 2016 to July 2017, a Statistics & Economics Instructor at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics from September 2014 to June 2015, and a Social Outreach Director at MPLSzine from October 2012 to October 2013. Lastly, they worked as a Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota from September 2008 to May 2013 and as an Assistant Producer and News Editor at WGLT from January 2006 to February 2008.

Matthew Jacobs obtained an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from Illinois Central College in 1998-2003. Matthew then pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Political Science and Government from Illinois State University in 2005-2007. In 2007, they briefly studied Political Economy at the University of Hong Kong, followed by attending the University of Minnesota from 2008, where they earned a Master's degree in Political Science and Government, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the same field. Additionally, Matthew has obtained several certifications, including SAS Programming 1: Essentials from SAS, Education: Professional Educator Certificate from the Illinois State Board of Education and The Florida Department of Education, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from Global TEFL - Global Language Training Ltd., and CompTIA A+ from CompTIA.