Tonya Bibbs, Ph.D.

Tonya Bibbs has more than 20 years of experience in applied social science research, program evaluation, and research design. She brings to JBA skills in aligning budgets with project priorities; leading program design and implementation; collaborating with communities, foundations, and government stakeholders for needs assessments and evaluations; building and sustaining effective workgroups; developing and maintaining safe learning environments; and scaffolding the capacity of groups to center equity and social justice. Bibbs has applied these skills in a range of settings, including foundations, government agencies, institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, and early childhood education and care settings. Her content expertise includes child development across domains, theoretical and practical approaches to equity, mental health across the lifespan, family and community engagement, and workforce development.

At JBA, Bibbs supports and leads evaluation and technical assistance projects in the Child Welfare and Child and Family Development practice areas. She also contributes to the design and implementation of JBA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative.

Prior to joining JBA, Bibbs was an associate professor at Erikson Institute in Chicago. She received a Ph.D. in child development from Loyola University Chicago.

I am committed to a future where families have what they need to flourish. Research and evaluation are crucial for creating these conditions. My experiences as a Black woman, a community-based social worker, and an applied developmental researcher shape my research questions. Research has the power to contribute to antiracist futures by guiding us toward more equitable and supportive environments for all families.