Angela Crumdy, PhD is an experienced education researcher, instructor, and consultant with a demonstrated history of working in secondary and post-secondary education as well as non-profits. Trained as a cultural anthropologist with fieldwork experience in the United States and Cuba. Dr. Angela work has won awards from organizations like National Academy of Education, the American Educational Research Association and more.
Why did you decide to enroll in the CSIS Executive Program ? Barbershop Books, Inc. won the 2025 Lipman Family Foundation Grand Prize, and as part of that, I was offered the chance to earn a certificate through the Center for Social Impact Strategy. I’m relatively new to the nonprofit world, so the program’s range really caught my eye. I loved that I could learn about everything from negotiation and volunteer management to how social movements use digital media—all things I’m tackling in real-time in my current role.
Describe your Social Impact Area: I currently serve as the Director of Programs and Research for Barbershop Books, a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring Black boys and vulnerable youth to read for fun. My role involves leading a dedicated team that supports over 200 barbershop partners nationwide, manages our E-library, and facilitates Reading So Lit, our virtual summer literacy program. My passion stems from the ability to meld my research background with tangible, real-time social change. It is extremely rewarding (and fun) to work with community members and organizations from across the country who are all committed to transforming early literacy experiences for young people
Advice for future applicants: I’d tell them to embrace the chance to just sit with their ideas. Usually, we’re all so busy jumping from one task to the next that we don’t take the time to stop and reflect. This course creates a rare, supportive space to do exactly that. It’s not often you get extended time to work through your thoughts with people who “get it”—so definitely take advantage of that!
How do you envision this program impacting your career in the future? Overall, I am excited about the ways that this program will provide me with the technical skills and theoretical frameworks to critically approach my work with Barbershop Books. My academic training gave me a solid foundation, but I realize that there is so much that I want to know about how to strategically make an impact in the nonprofit space. In addition to the course work, I also think that my cohort members will serve as a great network. It was great meeting them on campus, and I’m excited to see how our relationship grow over time.
Thank you Angela! If you are interested in learning more about CSIS Executive Program check out our website and sign up for our 2027 info sessions! Also, SIS graduates are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) in an accelerated, on-campus, or online format. The NPL program is a ten-credit master’s program; SIS Alumni must complete six credits to graduate.