About me
Helen is an interdisciplinary researcher who is committed to developing and sustaining humanizing school systems and out-of-school spaces for young people. At foundry10, she leads the Youth and Educator Social and Emotional Learning Lab and collaborates with the Health and Well-being team to promote the mental and physical health of young people and those who work closely with them. Her approach to research is informed by her decades-plus work with schools and non-profits in Detroit and Chicago, as well as by her experiences as a daughter of the diaspora and mother of two. As a former middle school teacher and community-based educator, she is passionate about conducting research that is responsive to the needs and hopes of communities involved.
She holds a MA in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as well as a MA and PhD in Human Development from the University of Chicago.