Dr. Leonie Brown
Leadership. Higher Education. Cultural Wealth Strategy. Social JusticeLeadership, Advocacy, and Social Equity for BIPOC Communities • Higher Education • Navigation and Program Design for BIPOC • Cultural Wealth Strategy (CWS) with AI Support • Inspirational Motivation for Women of Colour • “Teach the Teacher” Learning (Training) Modules
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Leonie Brown is an educator with graduate degrees from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). She earned her Doctorate in Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE) in 2012, specializing in Social Equity, Cultural Wealth Strategy (CWS), Academic Writing, Womanist Theory, Teacher Training, and Curriculum Development. Dr. Leonie taught English Composition for BIPOC students for ten years at U of T and served as a faculty supervisor for the Initial Teacher Education Program at OISE/UT for two years. Her pedagogy emphasizes inclusivity in her teaching, written content, and speaking engagements.
Although very proud of her educational accomplishments, Dr. Leonie believes that her identity as a woman of faith trumps her academic identity and prowess. Additionally, she has been a professional Education Consultant operating her own business since 2017, allowing her to speak effectively in both academic/business and spiritual contexts.
Driven by her own experiences of overcoming doubt, Dr. Leonie is dedicated to encouraging and uplifting Black and culturally diverse students and aims to turn her success into a form of empowerment for others.
Dr. Leonie is an author and motivational speaker for faith-based communities. She passionately discusses her book, "Unbelieve It: Discover How to Unpack Your Myths and Unleash Your Gifts," targeting Black women and women of colour (WOC). However, her message resonates with anyone affected by systemic or personal myths and lies. In her presentations, Dr. Leonie illustrates her own lived experiences, and vulnerabilities to get the much-needed message of Unbelieve It across to her audiences.
Signature Topics
Unbelieve It: Motivational Talk for Women of Colour
Based on her book "Unbelieve It!" Dr. Leonie address the historical and current lies imposed on Black women and women of colour in education, profession, church, and personal relationships.
Higher Education, Navigation and Program Design for BIPOC:
This presentation exposes the barriers Black students face in higher education, and presents research to improve matriculation rates after Dr. Leonie was told by educational authorities that she was "not academic material. "
Cultural Wealth Strategy (CWS)
Dr. Leonie uses her expertise in CWS to deliver diverse speaking topics;
• “Teach the Teacher” modules: offering tools for (white) educators to implement CWS, enhancing education for Black students and students of colour.
• CWS with AI Support: focuses on the "assets" and "abilities" of communities of colour.
• Leadership, Advocacy, and Social Equity: introduces innovative techniques and tools to foster inclusive environments and address social equity and human rights issues.
