Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES)

Jessica Barnes-Najor

Inducted in
2026

Michigan State University

Director for Community Partnerships, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship

Photo of Jessica Barnes-Najor

Biographical Abstracts

Jessica Barnes-Najor is a developmental psychologist who focuses on engaging community partners in the research process. Barnes-Najor is a co-investigator for the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center, partnering with Indigenous communities across the continental United States to address community-defined research topics in early childhood education. Barnes-Najor is also a co-PI of Wiba Anung, an early childhood research collaborative of partners representing seven Michigan tribes. The research conducted by Barnes-Najor focuses on examining (1) the influence of Native language and cultural experiences on children's development and (2) the cultural alignment of early childhood education and care theories and research methods.

Areas of Expertise

  • Practices, processes, and approaches to building meaningful community-engaged research partnerships
  • Research partnerships with North American Indigenous early childhood programs
  • The influence of Native language and cultural experiences on Indigenous children's development
  • Approaches to understanding positive development for children from diverse backgrounds