EDUCATOR

Do work that matters. Vale la pena.

- Gloria Anzaldua

 

Hey there! I am Simone Francis, a first-gen West Indian educator grounded in community and creative practice. I currently serve as the Assistant Director for Student Services and Special Projects at NYU Opportunity Programs, a program providing holistic support and development for historically underserved, low-income New York State students.

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I am the Founder of Anansi Creative Studio LLC, which I started as an opportunity to center authentic storytelling, community centered practice, creative expression, and (re)imagination as pillars and tools for building stronger communities and inclusive spaces. The Studio offers unique cultural and educational engagement and consulting opportunities for a wide range of audiences, with storytelling and creative expression at the core.

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In the Higher Education world, I have held a wide variety of meaningful roles and engaged in life-changing experiences that have expanded my passion for doing diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging work, and forged a path forward in exploring the intersections of social justice, education, and creative arts.

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In 2015, I moved to Shanghai, China for the opportunity to spearhead diversity initiatives in the Office of Student Life at NYU Shanghai. Since then, I've been on quite an exciting journey. Some of those endeavors have included developing creative and dynamic DEI offerings for students, faculty, staff, and alumni at Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, overseeing a social justice and community building residential program at Indiana University Bloomington, serving as an Education Fellow with Diversity Abroad, and working with international high school students in Stanford University's Pre-Collegiate Studies Program.

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As an introvert in an extroverted field, I have been referred to as a quiet storm - an extremely hard worker, unlikely to be the face of a project or initiative, but always a powerful presence - continuously grinding and innovating behind the scenes to create opportunities that amplify the voices of my students and communities on the margins. As a community-oriented individual, I am also continually seeking opportunities to grow, build, and learn, and I have pursued this by serving in various roles within educational organizations.

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I earned my Master of Science in Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington and my Bachelor of Arts in Biology from New York University.