Jennifer Barnhart is Research Associate for the Illinois Education Research Council. She came to the Council in August 2002. She studied at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and received her bachelor’s degree in Education in 1975. After teaching grades 6-8 in Illinois for five years, she began work on her master’s in Religious Education and received her degree in 1983. It was at this time she found her niche in support and administrative positions. Previous work experience includes IBM marketing team support and software training, environmental engineering and consulting team support, and as administrative specialist to the deans of the Graduate School at Kansas State University.