Dr. Minzi A. Thomas is a Senior Education Designer who leads the design of micro-pathways for the Montana University System, in the Year-to-Career Initiative that includes 12 colleges and one tribal college. The goal of this initiative is to design programs in high-growth careers that can be completed in one-year or less, include technical and durable skills, and stack toward a degree. Minzi also supports the Lab’s OneTen partnership focused on building economic prosperity for Black talent.

A storyteller at heart, Minzi has a background in marketing and communications, workforce development, and college enrollment. She has a passion for developing workforce talent through partnership building, information sharing, and student advocacy.

Prior to joining the Lab, Minzi served as Director of Strategic Professional Development and Enrollment Management at Meharry Medical College. In this role, she managed enrollment and workforce development programming for the School of Applied Computational Sciences by cultivating partnerships with community leaders, industry, and college leaders. One of her department goals was to increase the number of Black and minority data scientists in the U.S.

Minzi has also served as a Tennessee Reconnect Navigator for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, supporting adult learners through college enrollment processes. She has taught speech and communication courses at community colleges in the Nashville area for over eight years.

Minzi has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Electronic Media, a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership. Her dissertation research focused on partnership engagement and college-to-university transfer as capacity-building strategies to cultivate student success.

Outside the Lab, her interests include concerts with standing-room only, astrology, and long walks in the park.