Glenda N. Smiley

Writer I Researcher I Social Entrepreneur I Educator & Youth Developer I Art Enthusiast

BIO I GLENDA N. SMILEY BC '09

Glenda Smiley's motto is "Educate, Empower, and Engage the Leaders of Tomorrow." To this end, she is fiercely committed to the fields of education and human development. Glenda is currently a graduate student at Bank Street College of Education studying Leadership in Community-based Learning (Non-profit sector). Her research focuses on evaluating the effect that programmatic collaborations between schools, NGOs, and community-based organizations may have on the academic and life skill preparedness of at risk students transitioning from junior high school to high school or from high school to college. As a part of her personal interest in urban literacy, she is also developing a K-12 ELA curriculum, which will use literature from the African Diaspora to teach reading, writing, and cultural literacy.

Glenda was recently hired as the Instructional Support Associate at Harlem Village Academy Middle (HVA) School in Manhattan, New York where she supports the 5th and 8th grade teaching teams and works under the direction of the Academic Director. Glenda also works part-time for BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. and is a consultant to Tomorrow's Leaders NYC. In this capacity, she cultivates academic enrichment and cultural enrichment programs, develops strategic partnerships, and designs PR/Marketing strategies.