Samuel Betances

He is best known for keynoting and presenting workshops on retaining, educating and graduating first generation students from book-poor homes. With a compelling personal journey from dropping out of school to earning two graduate degrees from Harvard, he motivates and inspires willing learners. His message urges educators, students, parents, community leaders and youth development professionals in public and private institutions of learning across the country to help the next generation succeed by staying in school, becoming educated and graduating. His children and grandchildren are products of the Chicago Public Schools.

Having worked at the US Department of Education and as a Professor of Sociology at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago for 25 years, Dr. Betances is widely recognized for his advocacy of First Generation Students. He and his wife, Dr. Laura M. Torres Souder, have provided professional leadership and staff development training to over 1,112 public and private schools at home and abroad. They continue to provide diversity training and advocate for authentic literacy throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and Micronesia.