Shawnia White became the Executive Director of Community Schools and Youth Development (CSYD) at Educational Alliance in Fall 2024. For over 12 years, she has supported EA’s mission through her work in school-based programs. She began her career at PS 142 as a Teaching Artist and quickly demonstrated her leadership abilities, advancing to Program Coordinator at PS 64, and Senior Program Director at PS 140. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Programs for the CSYD (Community Schools and Youth Development) division.

In addition to her work at Educational Alliance, Shawnia has also made an impact as a Dance Movement Therapist at New Horizon Counseling Center, where she helped individuals explore self-expression and healing through movement. She also completed a year of service with NYC Americorps, helping to support students’ social, emotional and academic development while providing schools with additional capacity to enhance learning and belonging. Shawnia holds a BA from Gaucher College and a Masters from the Pratt Institute, where she is a Visiting Professor.