Making a Difference, One Student at a Time

Dr. Geneva L. Reed grew up with family in the same Illinois Army National Guard helicopter unit she would join at age 17 and serve for 10 years. From an early age, she was well on the path to becoming an empowered woman.

“The military taught me how to conquer fear. It taught me that if I failed at something or thought I’d fail at something if I just got back up and tried again, I could experience success,” says Dr. Reed. “The military taught me never to quit.”

When she transitioned to civilian life, she got her big start in information technology with industry giant IBM. She spent most of her career moving through the ranks of tech, acquiring various leadership roles in the process.

After graduating from Walden University’s Doctor of Business Administration program specializing in Leadership, the door was open to academia. Today, she teaches full-time for Chicago Public Schools’ pre-engineering program. Additionally, she holds part-time roles as an associate faculty member for two universities, one of which is an alma mater.

“Every moment of my Walden journey has led me to academia,” says Dr. Reed. “I’m thankful to have these opportunities to share my business, organizational leadership, and technology expertise at the university level.”

She mentions that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the village that supported her from the start. That is precisely why she dedicates the resources that her professional and academic career have afforded her to mimic that village of support for today’s youth.

Dr. Reed’s most notable accomplishment is founding a nonprofit organization in honor of her grandmother, the Freddie Mae Leverston Leadership Foundation (FMLLF), which turns 13 this year. With its mission being to promote students' overall education and development, FMLLF mentors and offers several educational programs for culinary students and Reed’s former high school in Chicago. They also award annual scholarships, which have been successful since 2010.

“The foundation is definitely first when I think of my greatest accomplishments,” Dr. Reed says. “Just going through the process of applying for the 501c3 on my own and getting approval from the federal government the first time around was major. I also have a wonderful group of directors who work to support and encourage our youth while advancing our mission.”

Dr. Reed is grateful to have accomplished things she never thought possible. “Completing my DBA with a 4.0 GPA was a huge testament to what hard work and perseverance can do,” says Dr. Reed. She also notes her recent Woman of the Year award from the Iota Phi Lambda sorority.

“I’ve never been someone who’s trying to be seen. I’m just putting my head down and doing the work,” says Dr. Reed. “These accomplishments have taken on a life of their own and given me a renewed sense of purpose. Now, I know that people are looking at me, even when I don’t realize they’re paying attention. Because of that, I’m more focused and intentional than ever on being present and giving back to my community and our youth.”