Learning, Listening & Leading

Dr. McKenzie-DeFranza, Founder of Aspiring Spirit LLC and Associate Professor of Practice at Gordon College's School of Education, is also recognized as the inaugural Director of the Tufts Generous Listening and Dialogue Center. She preceded that position as Director of the Aspire Institute at Boston University Wheelock College of Education, providing professional development to hundreds of practitioners. She has taught and served as an administrator in both higher education and K-12 in her career. At the Federal education level, she served as Executive Director for the National Board of Education Sciences. She serves on the School Committee (Board) in her town.In 2022, she was recognized with the Heroine Award by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Commission on the Status of Women.