Dr. Vanessa Santiago Schwarz (she/ella) is a teacher, teacher/parent educator, and mother to two young children. In both her role as a mother and scholar, Vanessa is committed to social justice and anti-bias practices.

Vanessa grew up in a multicultural and multilingual home. Her mother is from Puerto Rico and her father is the son of two Holocaust survivors. She has been committed to creating inclusive spaces since she was a young child.

Prior to beginning her doctorate, Vanessa spent almost a decade working in Dual Language programs as a general and special education teacher in New York City public schools. She also taught in Monteverde, Costa Rica and Oaxaca, Mexico. With a Masters of Science in Bilingual and Special Childhood Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity, Dr. Santiago Schwarz is knowledgeable about institutional systems of oppression and passionate in supporting caregivers, educators and leaders to develop more equitable communities. In her current university position, Vanessa teaches education courses designed to support current and future teachers in designing anti-racist, humanizing, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices. She draws on her teaching skills to engage groups in interactive learning experiences aimed at promoting inclusion and equity.