Safiya Johnson, Ed.M. Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Within this role, I support print, email, and social media communications around the University's college access and undergraduate financial aid initiatives. I am a Communications and Visitor Engagement Team member with a dotted line to the Outreach and Access Team. I'm excited to return to diversity, access, and inclusion work through this role.

Within this role, I started to serve as the team lead of the Northeast cluster and read applications from prospective college students from the region. My functional area was overseeing the Alumni Admission Council (AAC) with the support of an AAC coordinator. Successes included creating an implicit bias training (the first formal workshop of its kind) for 4,000+ alumni volunteers, reimagining how Northwestern alums can engage prospective college students through more robust programming, and… Show more Within this role, I started to serve as the team lead of the Northeast cluster and read applications from prospective college students from the region. My functional area was overseeing the Alumni Admission Council (AAC) with the support of an AAC coordinator. Successes included creating an implicit bias training (the first formal workshop of its kind) for 4,000+ alumni volunteers, reimagining how Northwestern alums can engage prospective college students through more robust programming, and increasing the representation of Black and Latinx/e alumni within the AAC by 70%. Show less

I supported PCS Joslin students and families throughout the post-secondary planning process, with a special focus on grades 11 and 12. My goals for school year 2020-2021 included increasing quality university and non-profit partnerships, revamping the post-secondary planning process for grades 9 and 10, and increasing family engagement. Successes include leading presentations on institutional racism, instituting weekly career panels, and raising the college-going rate by 13%.

I was a member of the IIT/Math and Science Academy campus' inaugural Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Team that produced professional development workshops for staff. I empowered students to make better academic, social, and behavioral decisions via one-on-one coaching and family engagement initiatives. I applied research-based best practices to raise MSA's average daily attendance and on-time arrival rates through strategic student, family, and whole school outreach and… Show more I was a member of the IIT/Math and Science Academy campus' inaugural Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Team that produced professional development workshops for staff. I empowered students to make better academic, social, and behavioral decisions via one-on-one coaching and family engagement initiatives. I applied research-based best practices to raise MSA's average daily attendance and on-time arrival rates through strategic student, family, and whole school outreach and interventions. Show less

Memphis, Tennessee

I assisted with landscape, cost-benefit, best practices, and systems-level change analysis of local, poverty-fighting education non-profits via the collection of interview data, Census data mining, and research. I also aided a full-time staff member's efforts to create an impact assessment writing manual.

Greater Boston Area

I assisted the Harvard Public Schools Partnerships team expand their portfolio of programs that promote the creation of a college-going identity and exploration of career pathways for middle and high school students who attend public schools in Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge. Projects included creating a one-day conference for Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge high school students on HGSE's campus; presenting college essay workshops at the Harvard Ed Portal; and creating workshops centered on… Show more I assisted the Harvard Public Schools Partnerships team expand their portfolio of programs that promote the creation of a college-going identity and exploration of career pathways for middle and high school students who attend public schools in Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge. Projects included creating a one-day conference for Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge high school students on HGSE's campus; presenting college essay workshops at the Harvard Ed Portal; and creating workshops centered on implicit bias and self-advocacy for 8th grade students. Show less

In addition to my previous responsibilities, I led an office-wide reading training on how to appropriately read, rate, and move QuestBridge (typically low-income, first-generation college students, and rural applicants) files. I expanded the University's Summer Coalition Internship by building relationships with non-profit leaders in Chicago and Miami. My favorite project was winning a $7,500 grant from the Inclusive Climate Fund to pilot an education summit for 40 Black/African-American male… Show more In addition to my previous responsibilities, I led an office-wide reading training on how to appropriately read, rate, and move QuestBridge (typically low-income, first-generation college students, and rural applicants) files. I expanded the University's Summer Coalition Internship by building relationships with non-profit leaders in Chicago and Miami. My favorite project was winning a $7,500 grant from the Inclusive Climate Fund to pilot an education summit for 40 Black/African-American male high school juniors in Spring 2019. Show less

In addition to my previous responsibilities, I oversaw and doubled the University’s fall diversity prospective student fly-in through strategic outreach. I created a strategic plan for increasing the University’s engagement with predominately Black/African-American high schools and communities. I joined an advisory committee of campus partners that sought to increase academic, social, and emotional supports for low-income College students. In 2016, I began to oversee the University's… Show more In addition to my previous responsibilities, I oversaw and doubled the University’s fall diversity prospective student fly-in through strategic outreach. I created a strategic plan for increasing the University’s engagement with predominately Black/African-American high schools and communities. I joined an advisory committee of campus partners that sought to increase academic, social, and emotional supports for low-income College students. In 2016, I began to oversee the University's QuestBridge process, which included scheduling admissions committee meetings, overseeing a larger budget, and creating new outreach materials for QuestBridge students. My territory changed to Northeast Ohio and select Chicago Public Schools for the Fall 2016 and subsequent cycles. Show less

I was graciously given more oversight to hire and train 6-8 UChicago Promise Interns a year. I am proud that many UChicago Promise Interns have continued their career in college access oriented organizations upon graduation. I was given greater oversight to plan and expand campus programs for Chicago Public School students and counselors. My recruitment territory for the Fall 2015 cycle included Michigan and the South and Southwest Suburbs of Chicago. I read over 1,400 Fall 2015 first-year and… Show more I was graciously given more oversight to hire and train 6-8 UChicago Promise Interns a year. I am proud that many UChicago Promise Interns have continued their career in college access oriented organizations upon graduation. I was given greater oversight to plan and expand campus programs for Chicago Public School students and counselors. My recruitment territory for the Fall 2015 cycle included Michigan and the South and Southwest Suburbs of Chicago. I read over 1,400 Fall 2015 first-year and transfer admissions files.My biggest accomplishment in this role was helping to eliminate the academic-year work expectation for incoming low-income College students. I helped draft a memo that summarized research findings on working low-income college students' experience for UChicago's Board of Trustees. This policy decision was incorporated into the University’s new "No Barriers Initiative," which was announced Fall 2014. Show less

This internship opened my eyes to the college equity and access profession. As a UChicago Promise Intern, I gained insights into how selective college admissions counselors read applications. I assisted UChicago's Chicago territory manager recruit students at local college fairs and events. However, my primary assignment was to assist the 11th and 12th-grade counselors at UChicago Charter School: Woodlawn Campus (UCW) create and lead their school's 6-to-16 college preparatory curriculum. At… Show more This internship opened my eyes to the college equity and access profession. As a UChicago Promise Intern, I gained insights into how selective college admissions counselors read applications. I assisted UChicago's Chicago territory manager recruit students at local college fairs and events. However, my primary assignment was to assist the 11th and 12th-grade counselors at UChicago Charter School: Woodlawn Campus (UCW) create and lead their school's 6-to-16 college preparatory curriculum. At UCW, I presented workshops on “Creating Your First Resume”, “Writing Strong College Essays”, and “The Do-s and Don’t-s of College and Job Interviews” to high school juniors and seniors. Show less

This was my first experience managing people and tracking organizational data. Nightly, I tracked 12-28 student callers’ progress towards reaching the center's evening, quarterly, and annual giving goals for over 40 giving segments. I also listened in on calls in order to provide coaching and guidance to student callers. Beyond evaluating student callers, I also sought to boost morale within the calling center. Student callers included University of Chicago College and graduate students.

I learned how to build rapport with University of Chicago alumni, parents, and donors before making giving asks. This job helped me learn how to deal with rejection as well as how to share my story with strangers. At the end of my career as a student caller and supervisor, I raised close to $139,000 for the University of Chicago.

I helped CAAP students (typically first-generation and/or low-income incoming, first-year College students) become acclimated to living in the City of Chicago by leading groups of 12-25 students to cultural, theater, and sporting outings across the city on public transit. I shared my own college transition story with incoming students. I assisted the Director of CAAP complete administrative tasks, which at times included assisting professors prepare materials for class and placing catering… Show more I helped CAAP students (typically first-generation and/or low-income incoming, first-year College students) become acclimated to living in the City of Chicago by leading groups of 12-25 students to cultural, theater, and sporting outings across the city on public transit. I shared my own college transition story with incoming students. I assisted the Director of CAAP complete administrative tasks, which at times included assisting professors prepare materials for class and placing catering orders. Show less

Greater Chicago Area

This was my first formal internship experience. It allowed me to work closely with one of my high school's school counselors. As a Youth Leader for Whitney Young's Freshmen Connection program, I helped incoming high school freshmen get acclimated to Whitney Young, which is an elite and diverse magnet public school that serves grades 7-12. I shared my story about transitioning to Whitney Young from an all Black neighborhood elementary school that had a higher population of low-income students. I… Show more This was my first formal internship experience. It allowed me to work closely with one of my high school's school counselors. As a Youth Leader for Whitney Young's Freshmen Connection program, I helped incoming high school freshmen get acclimated to Whitney Young, which is an elite and diverse magnet public school that serves grades 7-12. I shared my story about transitioning to Whitney Young from an all Black neighborhood elementary school that had a higher population of low-income students. I gave students tips for seeking help and making friends at this larger, more diverse school. I also helped teachers prepare for daily lessons by completing administrative tasks and passing out discounted monthly student transit cards. Show less

Greater Chicago Area

Master Of Education - Edm, Education Policy And Management

Activities and Societies: Vice President of Educational Programming, HGSE Black Student Union; Education Policy & Management Student.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), With Honors, Sociology

Activities and Societies: Chicago Academic Achievement Program (2010-2011), Dean's List (2011-2014), Chicago Careers in Education.

High School Diploma