Dr. Rema Vassar is an experienced K-12 public school teacher, counselor, and administrator who currently serves on Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees and teaches Educational Leadership at Wayne State University. She is the founder of the Sankofa Scholarship Collective, a Black women-led, fugitive space committed to the radical act of centering Black children and families in education. Through Sankofa’s flagship conference, Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE), and its broader research, advocacy, and cultural work, Dr. Rema has galvanized communities across the nation to build power, cultivate joy, and transform educational systems.
Dr. Rema’s research is centered in schools serving culturally diverse students and families. She organizes parents for the improvement of student achievement and works as a consultant for school districts across the country, equipping educators with reflexive practices that increase equity and access for all students. With a focus on developing servant leaders committed to radical hope and love, she has taught and presented at professional conferences throughout the United States and in over 20 countries.
Dr. Rema believes in the power of education to change the world. Consistently building with communities, she brings authenticity to every space and is known for her love for the people and her desire to actualize the collective power of the people. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom. Dr. Rema wants us all to get free.
