Dr. Rema

Rema Reynolds Vassar, PhD, has long been a dedicated advocate for education. Throughout her career, she has focused on the needs of marginalized individuals and communities within the educational system. Her passion for ensuring equity and justice has shaped her work, emphasizing support for those often overlooked and underrepresented. Vassar’s expertise spans educational leadership, school culture, and organization, particularly in underserved and international contexts. Her career has focused on preparing educators, including administrators, teachers, and counselors, to address cross-cultural educational challenges. She is particularly interested in how race, gender, and class influence schools and how policies and practices affect student outcomes. Her commitment to equity and access for minoritized communities is central to her work. With over 20 years of experience as a K-12 teacher, counselor, and administrator, Dr. Rema works to improve school communities' wellness by engaging students and parents. She serves on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees and teaches in the Educational Leadership program at Wayne State University. Dr. Rema has dedicated her career to empowering communities and transforming education. She believes that education can be a powerful force for change and works to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Her work has taken her to over 20 countries, where she has shared her expertise and research on transformative leadership, focusing on creating opportunities for culturally diverse students and families. In 2021, Rema Vassar founded Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE), an initiative focused on wellness, advocacy, and leadership. CBCE hosts an annual free virtual conference that brings educators, parents, and community members together to discuss and address Black children's unique educational challenges. This platform fosters collaboration and resistance against the systemic oppression of Black children.