Alumni Conversation Series: Dr. Joseph Shoffner with Keenen Stevenson

February is Black history Month – a time for everyone, and especially educators, to highlight Black history beyond trauma and struggle, and to examine the liberation, civic engagement, creativity and intersecting identities of Black people.

With that in mind, we hope you enjoy this conversation between alum Keenen Stevenson (2016 Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana) and Dr. Joseph Shoffner, Professor and Leadership Coach at UIC’s Urban School Leadership Program. Keenen is a fellow in the Aspire Fellowship and Dr. Shoffner is his coach. The Aspire Fellowship is a collaborative program between TFA GC-NWI and UIC that prepares aspiring leaders of color with the experience, confidence, and support network they need to enter principal certification programs.

Keenan Stevenson (2016 Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana) is a social worker, researcher, STEM educator, and Aspire Fellow. He joined Teach For America in 2016 and taught in Gary, IN. Currently, Keenen works at Mindful Life Counseling as a Psychotherapist.

Dr. Joseph Shoffner has been an educator in Chicago Public Schools for over 25 years and has earned a reputation as a principal who could develop and sustain an academic culture of continuous improvement. He is a graduate of the EdD Urban Leadership program at the University of Illinois. He currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Leadership Coach at the University of Illinois.