Dr. Bettina L. Love holds the esteemed William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is the acclaimed author of Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, a New York Times bestseller. This groundbreaking work led to her being awarded the prestigious Stowe Prize for Literary Activism and being named a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Recognized as one of the Next 50 Leaders by the Kennedy Center in 2022 for her dedication to fostering inspiration, inclusivity, and compassion, Dr. Love’s impact extends far beyond academia. In 2024, she was honored with the Truth Award for Excellence in Education from Better Brothers Los Angeles and The Diva Foundation.

Dr. Love actively contributes to nurturing and empowering educators and parents committed to combating injustice within their educational institutions and communities. Additionally, Dr. Love was instrumental in founding the Task Force behind the groundbreaking “In Her Hands” program, which disbursed more than $13 million to support Black women in Georgia.

Renowned as a highly sought-after public speaker, Dr. Love covers a wide range of compelling topics in her engagements, including abolitionist teaching, anti-racism, Hip Hop education, Black girlhood, queer youth, educational reparations, and the use of art-based education to foster youth civic engagement. Her profound insights and expertise have earned her recognition in various news outlets, including NPR, PBS, The Daily Beast, Time, Education Week, The Guardian, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In 2018, the Georgia House of Representatives honored Dr. Love with a resolution for her impactful contributions to the field of education. She is also a prolific writer, contributing articles on race in America to Education Week Opinion. With her bestseller We Want To Do More Than Survive, she has sold close to 200,000 copies, making it a staple in classrooms nationwide and solidifying her as a leading voice in the field of education.