Maretta L. Hodges, Ed.M. MSW, is a human services professor, college administrator, and mental health therapist for youth,  kindergarten- college living in marginalized communities throughout New Jersey.   This trailblazer, with proven loyalty towards the transformation of negative trajectories of African Americans, founded Metamorphosis Consulting Services to provide holistic intensive in-community counseling and academic support services to assist scholars requiring essential support to enroll and complete college degrees in NJ.  .

 

Throughout her 20-year career in education, Professor Hodges has worked tirelessly to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged communities, by helping thousands of students obtain college degrees through New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program.  As a result of her advocacy, several thousand college students were able to access supportive services, including counseling, tutoring, and developmental course work. Moreover, tens of thousands of students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds received financial assistance, counseling, and tutoring services essential to those attempting to complete a college degree.  

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Professor Hodges, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, participated in the state's EOF program herself as an undergraduate student. This experience kick-started her long academic journey as a lifelong learner and advocate of communities that have traditionally been silenced. After earning her associate degree from Passaic County Community College, she continued to earn a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Montclair State University, and a master's degree in social work from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.  She later headed to the Ivy League, where she earned a master's in education at Teachers College  Columbia University in New York, New York.  

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Professor Hodges has worked ardently in several capacities through which she was able to make an impact on thousands of young lives. Since 2001, Professor Hodges has performed service roles as Coordinator of the Student Support Services Program at Passaic County Community College, Assistant Director of the EOF Program at William Paterson University, and Program Director of the EOF Program at Bloomfield College. 

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In 2011 Professor. Hodges answered the call of service to serve as the President of The Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey.   In this capacity, she advocated for the Educational Opportunity Grant, which extended more than $400 million to assist tens of thousands of under-served college students attending New Jersey's colleges and universities.

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Recognizing that emancipated youth from the foster care system are among those needing the most support, Professor Hodges founded Metamorphosis Consulting Services.  Since 2012, Metamorphosis Consulting Services has provided holistic services to emancipated youth needing assistance as they work through childhood traumas, and acquiring life skills necessary to thrive in college and career as adults. As she continues to grow her nonprofit initiative, she plans to launch a transitional living facility to increase community leadership and help emancipated youth gain independence beyond college.

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Professor Hodges is currently working on a doctorate in behavioral health education at Columbia University. As part of the Columbia academic community, she has worked with Columbia University Law School as a contractor with the Louisiana Department of Education. Professor Hodges has also served as an administrator with Columbia University's Community Impact project by helping disenfranchised residents of Harlem, New York gain employment, complete the GED Exam, or attend their local junior college. She is currently serving as the university's Doctoral Senator of the Behavioral Health Department at Teachers College Columbia University, the first and largest graduate school of education in the United States of America.   

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Upon earning her degree, Professor Hodges intends to be the first person from her neighborhood to earn a doctorate from an Ivy League university. Her academic research parallels her professional work surrounding youth who have "aged out" of foster care and who are attempting to obtain college degrees after emancipating.