Jonli Tunstall has been appointed associate vice provost of student diversity and director of the UCLA Academic Advancement Program (AAP). A double Bruin with a bachelor’s in psychology and a Ph.D. from the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, she has championed initiatives that serve educationally underrepresented students throughout her more than 20-year career.
“Having experienced AAP as a student, I understand firsthand the power of programs that invest deeply in access, care and academic excellence,” said Tunstall. “I am excited to lead this work at a moment when higher education must think boldly about how we support students and the people who serve them. I look forward to working alongside the AAP team and partners across campus to help our students thrive.”
Tunstall previously served as director of pre-college and summer programs with AAP, where she oversaw the Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars (VIPS) program, a college access retention program partnering with high schools in Los Angeles and Pasadena, and the Freshman and Transfer Summer Programs (FTSP), a summer bridge program designed to help students transition to the academic rigors at UCLA.
During her 18-year tenure with VIPS, the program supported more than 600 students, achieving a 51% acceptance rate and an 89% graduation rate. Under Tunstall’s leadership over the past 11 years, FTSP has served more than 4,000 students.
In addition to her administrative leadership, Tunstall has taught courses in UCLA’s School of Education, department of African American studies and department of ethnomusicology.
