Dr. N. Joyce Payne

Dr. N. Joyce Payne is a pioneering advocate for Black higher education and principled leadership. In 1987, she founded the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to support students at the nation’s publicly funded Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Her career spans academia, public policy, and institutional leadership, with roles in the Carter administration, the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and the American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU).

A nationally recognized authority on education, workforce development, and equity, Dr. Payne has shaped policies that expand opportunities for African Americans and women in higher education. She has served on the boards of AARP, the University of the District of Columbia, and TMCF, receiving numerous honorary degrees and national honors for her contributions.

Dr. Payne brings deep expertise and unwavering passion for building the next generation of Black educators through TMCF’s Teacher Quality & Retention Program (TQRP)—ensuring Black teachers are not just in the classroom but leading the future of education.

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