Dr. Lynette Danley Dr. Lynette L. Danley is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago, known as one of the leading institutions in the country for Teacher Preparation. In the College of Education, teach and mentors undergraduate and graduate students in the Departments of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies. Her research interests include examining factors that aid or impede the mobility of Black girls and women throughout the educational pipeline. Dr. Danley continues to speak across the country in states including, but not limited to, Illinois, Utah, Missouri and California about the diverse experiences of Black girls and women, especially Black girls at the Secondary Education level. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois where she attended elementary and high school in the Chicago Public School (CSP) system, she felt it necessary after earning several degrees to relocate back to Chicago to give back to the CPS. She believes that partnerships between students, teachers, administrators, parents and postsecondary institutions are one way to identify and address the challenges that Black girls face in schools and society. Her workshops cover a range of topics including Black history, resiliency, activism, cultural awareness, impact of media messages, college preparation, self-love commitment to education, respect for community service, respect for self and ways to reclaim both individual and collective strength associated with being Black and female. She embraces storytelling, autobiographies, various forms of the Arts and statistics from city, state and national organizations to situate their holistic needs. Dr. Danley’s goals are to reinforce how Black girls’ D.N.A. is ever-present. Thus, their Destiny Never Abandons them. By doing so, Dr. Danley “Empower Black girls and women live their Legacies”.