Shannon R. Waite, Ed.D.

Dr. Shannon R. Waite is an educational leader with over two decades of experience and holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Fordham University. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Howard University in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Dr. Waite is a scholar-activist-researcher. Her primary focus lies in cultivating critical consciousness among educational leaders by employing critical policy analysis and theories to scrutinize prevailing systems and practices. The ultimate goal of her work is to address and rectify the inequities prevalent in schools and districts.

Dr. Waite embarked on her educational journey in 2003 as a Global Studies teacher in New York City Public Schools. Over the years, she has held a range of positions, including teacher, teacher recruiter, and human resource director, culminating in her role as the Director of Principal Pipeline Recruitment at the New York City Department of Education.

Transitioning from PreK-12 to higher education in 2016, Dr. Waite began her tenure as a clinical assistant professor at Fordham University. In 2018, she was honored with an appointment to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) for NYC Public Schools by former NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio. This appointment also bestowed upon her the role of a Trustee for the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) and she concluded her service on both platforms in 2021. Throughout her service, Dr. Waite consistently utilized her influence to shed light on the socio-political and historical factors contributing to educational inequities. She collaborated with a diverse range of stakeholders with a shared commitment to addressing and resolving these disparities.