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Dr. Rachelle Strawther - Speaker, Facilitator & Consultant
Rachelle Strawther, Ed.D., M.A.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Rachelle Strawther (Rachelle) interactively engages audiences through humorous, yet powerful talks and keynote speeches. By discussing her leadership failures, successes and lessons, she helps people consider how to become the best version of themselves, as leaders, followers, friends, and family members. Her multi-faceted background, which includes nearly nine years of work in East Africa, allows her to connect deeply with diverse audiences in various ways, whether that be sharing stories to elementary school students or engaging engineers in discussions about workplace challenges. Rachelle's guiding leadership mantra can be encapsulated in this African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Experience
In her full-time role as the Founding Director of the Gonzaga University Center for Lifelong Learning, Rachelle Strawther oversees continuing education programs available to the public. An engaging, humorous and candid speaker, Rachelle has presented interactive presentations for Boeing, the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation, the International Leadership Association, TEDx Kisumu, the Professional Credit Union Women of Spokane, the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association, and many other organizations. She is also a sought-out storyteller, speaking at the inaugural event for Pivot (a live storytelling event in Spokane), Gonzaga’s Story Slam, and regularly for the Inland Northwest Unitarian Universalist Community
Education and Work
Rachelle graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Anthropology, earned a Master's in Communication and Leadership, and completed a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She has served as a guest professor for the MBA program at Javeriana University (Colombia), taught in Gonzaga's Minor in Leadership Studies, and teaches in Gonzaga's leadership certificate courses. Additionally, Rachelle served as the President of Gonzaga University's Staff Assembly, representing more than 800 employees.
Prior to coming to Gonzaga, Rachelle worked in Kisumu, Kenya, from 2005 to 2013, first implementing community-based programs for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and later leading a regional sports-for-development organization serving 3000 youth. She also spent nearly a year in southern Ethiopia, where she taught English and other subjects. Rachelle continues to engage with African communities through her work with Kalaki Fund, a high school scholarship program that she co-founded in 2009.
BestSelfConsultingLLC@gmail.com
(509) 999-7320
Interested in talking to Rachelle about speaking or consulting? Contact her via email or phone.