Shalanda Dexter is an experienced professor and historian with a Ph.D. in History and African American Studies from Princeton University. She has over 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and administration at the K-12 and university levels. Her areas of expertise include African American religion, urban history, and education.

1. Shalanda Dexter, Ph.D.
1938 N. Drake
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 368-4222
shalandadexter@yahoo.com
SUMMARY STATEMENT
A professional historian and professor with a wide range of experience and education who is able
to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Proven leadership skills involving mentoring,
motivating students, curriculum development, and academic assessment. Strong analytical skills.
Published writer. Dedicated to maintaining high academic standards and student support.
EDUCATION:
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Ph.D., History and Religion/African American Studies, June 2001
Dissertation: “Sojourners in a Strange and Foreign Land: The Development of Black
Pentecostalism in Chicago 1940-1980”
Advisor: Nell Irvin Painter
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Masters of Arts, History, November 1995
Advisor: Nell Irvin Painter
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Participated in Exchange Scholars Program at the University, 1996-1997
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Bachelors of Arts, with Distinction and Honors in History, 1993
Minored in Education
PROFESSIONAL/RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Doctoral Research, Princeton University, 1993-2001
Interviewed Black Pentecostal migrants who came to Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s.
Recorded and compiled interviews of their religious experiences in Chicago. Focused on
the second wave of the Great Migration after WWII, and analyzed the urbanization of Black
Pentecostalism in Chicago. Documented the history of Black Pentecostal churches that
were established during this era. Used two of the oldest Black Pentecostal denominations
as a case study: the Church of God in Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.
Research Assistant, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Harvard University, 1997
Interviewed recipients of Black Religion Grants from the Lilly Foundation.
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2. Accomplishment
• My interviews were published the in the book Funding Faith.
Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1992-1993
Conducted research for the Religion in Urban America Project
Accomplishment
• The research I collected was published in the book Public Transformation.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Building Substitute Teacher, Catalyst Howland Charter School-2013-2014
Worked as the school’s building substitute teacher. Assigned to different classes each day as
push into classrooms and pull students out of classrooms to provide special education
services.
6th
grade Teacher, Chicago Quest-2012-2013
Responsible for managing a sixth grade homeroom and teaching 6th
grade social studies and
literature.
Accomplishments
• Created a 6th
grade girls’ mentoring program called “Lil’ Mizz Swaggas’
• Created curriculum for the program and facilitated monthly meetings
Director of Education, Bright Star Community Outreach Program – 2010 – 2012
Responsible for delivering educational programs for youth and adult learners for the Bronzeville
community. Specific duties include developing curriculum for K-12 after school program and
for the adult literacy and job readiness programs. Additional responsibilities include: program
assessment, supervision of staff of 10 (6 teachers and 4 program tutors) and teaching basic skills
courses.
Accomplishments
• Added 30 new students from two new partner elementary schools for the 2011-2012
academic year
• Increased student participation in the after school program by 50% and had a 95%
success rate with K-12 students progressing to the next grade level.
• Assisted 25 adult learners prepare for and pass the GED Examination
Adjunct Professor, History Department, Trinity International University, 2010-present
Teach three survey courses in Western Civilization to 150 students. Develop formative
and summative assessments to measure teaching and learning. Prepare weekly
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3. (frequency) interactive classroom assignments for students. Engage students in active
classroom learning. Assist students with research and class projects. Attend
departmental meetings. Work with faculty and department on curriculum matters.
Accomplishment
• All teaching evaluations have a 95% excellent approval rating.
Adjunct Professor, History Department, DePaul University, 2007-2009
Taught three survey courses in American History to 75 students. Developed curriculum
for the classes. Engaged students in active classroom learning. Prepared weekly
assessments to measure teaching and learning. Assisted students’ with research and class
projects. Attended departmental meetings.
Accomplishment
• All teaching evaluations had at least a 90% approval rating.
10th
Grade American History Teacher, Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy, 2007-2009
Created an American History curriculum and taught it to 100 10th
graders. Attended
quarterly meeting to discuss creative learning techniques and assessment tool.
Developed formative and summative assessments with my department to measure
teaching and learning. Attended weekly professional development classes to
enhance my team building and teaching skills. Worked in the Special Education
Department as a Learning Specialist. Co-taught classes. Learned how to develop
an Individual education plan for students.
Accomplishment
• Students conducted their own original research projects in their neighborhoods.
We created a publishable collection that explored the history of Chicago
neighborhoods from a youth perspective.
Volunteer Lecturer, The Cara Program, 2006-2007
Developed a curriculum for its currents events class. Taught adults conflict management,
public speaking, team building, interviewing techniques, critical thinking and reading
skills.
Accomplishment
• 70% of students who attended the class were able to transition into full time
employment.
Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies, University of California San Diego, 2001-2005
Developed curriculum for courses in African American Religion and Urban Planning.
Mentored undergraduates during their research and students who were first generation
college students. Met regularly to discuss their course schedules, financial aid, and the
transition from high school to college life. Participated in the department’s admission’s
committee.
Accomplishments
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4. • Award: Most Outstanding African-American Faculty, University of California, San
Diego, 2005
• Award: Ten of the Most Influential Faculty, University of California, San Diego,
2004
• Grant: Faculty Development, University of California, San Diego, 2002-2003
• Award: Most Outstanding African-American Faculty, University of California, San
Diego, 2002
• Faculty Coordinator for the Black Graduation, 2002-05, Directed African-
American graduating seniors to local African-American church for graduation.
• Coordinated and strengthened partnership between university and neighborhood
institutions.
• Worked with the department of student affairs to create programs that would increase
diversity and retain students of color.
8th
Grade Language Arts and Reading Teacher, Boston Renaissance Charter School, 2000-
2001
Designed and taught 8th
grade curriculum in reading and language arts. Executed effective
classroom management. Communicated with students, parents, and administrators about
the progress of students. Worked with the special education department, which practiced
the inclusion method.
Accomplishment
• All 100 of my eight grade students successfully passed the Massachusetts State
Assessment exam and were able to graduate.
Teaching Assistant, History Department, Princeton University, 1998-1999
Attended general lectures for a Civil War Course and 20th
Century American History
course. Taught two sections of the class. Graded weekly quizzes. Held office hours. Met
weekly with class instructors to review material and class progress.
Accomplishment:
• All of my teaching evaluations had an excellent rating by at least 90% of my
students.
High School History Teacher, Stuart Country Day School, 1997-1998
Taught AP Comparative Politics, 11th
Grade US History, 10th
Grade European History.
CONSULTING/EDITING/ CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Consultant, Church of God in Christ Publishing House, Memphis, TN 2013
Creating the online instructional material for the denomination’s national ordination curriculum
as well as create a teaching guide for this curriculum. Responsible for writing biographies and
articles concerning the denomination’s history for publication.
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5. Director of Christian Education, Bright Star COGIC, Chicago, IL 2010-2012
Developed curriculum for Christian Education classes at Bright Star COGIC. Trained teachers
to facilitate the classes.
Christian Education Classes
• “A Year of Pentecost”
• “The Purpose and Power of Men and Women”
• “Every Man’s Struggle”
• “Every Woman’s Struggle”
• “Love Speaks”
• “Love Speaks II”
Consultant, National Public Housing Museum, Chicago, IL 2011-2012
Created a summer pilot program for the museum in a local elementary school. The pilot trained
students how to conduct oral histories that will be a part of the archives of the museum.
Supervised and trained teaching assistants.
Accomplishment
• The histories that the students collected will be a part of the museum when it opens
in 2012.
Editor and Consultant, Harcourt Publishing, Orlando, FL 2004
Edited several chapters of a fifth-grade American History textbook.
Editor, The New Entrepreneurs, 2007
Edited this book. Provided historical, theological, and content feedback to the author, Dr.
Curtis A. Rodgers.
Student Editor, Harvard Guide to African American History, Harvard University, 1999-2000
Proofread entries. Verified bibliographic information for the volume. Supervised other
student editors.
Graduate Assistant, Princeton University, 1998-1999
Organized conferences. Participated in the search for new faculty for the African-
American Studies Program.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• COGIC Scholars
EVENT PLANNING
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6. • Parent programming for Horizons for Youth, Present
• Planned monthly workshop for parents in Horizons For Youth
• Secure speakers for each workshop
• Created theme
• Designed workshops
• Managed budget
• Workshops for 2015:
• January, “Building Positive Relationships with Your Child’s Teachers”
• March, “How Do I Effectively Communicate with My Child?”
• April, “Parenting a Child with a Learning Disability”
• May, “Protecting Our Children on the Internet”
• Women’s Conference, “Choosing to Exhale”, Bright Star COGIC, 2009
• Developed theme for the three day conference
• Managed budget for conference
• Secured speakers and their transportation for the conference
• Created all workshops and timelines for the conference
• Oversaw several committees assigned to various tasks for the conference
• Women’s Conference, “Celebrating Our Journey,” Bright Star COGIC, 2010
• Developed theme for the three day conference
• Managed budget for conference
• Secured speakers and their transportation for the conference
• Created all workshops and timelines for the conference
• Oversaw several committees assigned to various tasks for the conference
• Women’s Conference, “Walking in Our Destiny,” Bright Star COGIC, 2011
• Developed theme for the three day conference
• Managed budget for conference
• Secured speakers and their transportation for the conference
• Created all workshops and timelines for the conference
• Oversaw several committees assigned to various tasks for the conference
• Women’s Conference, “Healed to Serve,” Bright Star COGIC, 2012
• Developed theme for the three day conference
• Managed budget for conference
• Secured speakers and their transportation for the conference
• Created all workshops and timelines for the conference
• Oversaw several committees assigned to various tasks for the conference
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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7. Board Member, Doll, Inc., Chicago, IL 2011 to present
Doll, Inc. seeks to address the issues of homelessness and PTSD among female veterans.
I serve on the board and also am the chair of the advisory board. The advisory board
assists the board in its fundraising and educational endeavors.
Chaplain for the Lawndale Falcons football team 2011 to 2013
Parent Volunteer-Polaris Charter Academy 2009 to 2014
Organizer: Bronzeville Familyfest 2009-2011
Board Member, Sojourner Truth Charter School, San Diego, CA, 2001-2002
Revised and enriched curriculum for the school. Attempted to secure additional funding.
Restored the school’s good academic standing. Increased parental involvement in the
school.
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