Women in Leadership Advisory Member |
Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm
Active Term: 04/2025 - 04/2026
Areas of Expertise
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President and Chief Executive OfficerStep ForwardJacklyn A. Chisholm, Ph.D. leads Step Forward, Ohio's third largest Community Action Agency, dedicated to education, development, and support services. Dr. Chisholm also leads It’s Worth It Consulting and authored Leadership Lessons: Notes From and For the Journey. Her passion lies in transformative community service and empowerment programs. She believes in the power of education as a tool for lasting social impact and resilience. Under her leadership, Step Forward has expanded its outreach efforts and strengthened its commitment to addressing the diverse needs of the communities it serves. Dr. Chisholm is also an advocate for innovative practices that enhance program effectiveness and promote equitable access to resources.
Throughout her career, Dr. Chisholm has earned the title of “first”: first Vice President of Planning and External Affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum where, as Project Manager, she led the construction of the Museum’s $13 million Library and Archives; and at her alma mater Case Western Reserve University: first Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships, first Director of Community Relations, and the first Coordinator of Recruitment and Placement for the Office of Minority Programs. Dr. Chisholm is also a committed lifelong learner as a Harvard Business School alumna, and has earned three degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Medical Anthropology, Master of Arts in Psychological Anthropology, and a Ph.D. in Psychological Anthropology with an emphasis in Educational Anthropology. She is the recipient of numerous awards including YWCA of Greater Cleveland Woman of Achievement, Crain’s Cleveland Business Woman of Note, YWCA of Greater Cleveland Woman of Professional Excellence, Women of Color Foundation ISIS Award, and Council for Opportunity in Education National TRIO Achiever. |
