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As executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Culture & Education, Jean Strait (PhD) directs professional development, leads community problem solving, and partners with K-12 schools and colleges and universities on issues of diversity and student development.  In addition, Jean also works for Minneapolis Public Schools, Anishinaabe Academy, the only urban Native American School in Minneapolis where she works with K-5 students as a teacher coach and reading specialist.

She has been a faculty member at Hamline University for 15 years and draws upon over 30 years of experience in training teachers to use service-learning. Strait has received several awards: the Hamline University Ruth Grimes Professor Lifetime Achievement Award, The International Journal of Service-Learning in Teacher Education Lifetime Achievement Award, The International Conference of Service-Learning in Teacher Education Rahima Wade Outstanding Individual Educator, The Hedgman Center for Social Justice and Diversity-Outstanding Faculty Award and The President’s Award Minnesota Campus Compact. She was also a three-time finalist for the Thomas Ehrlich Award for Service-Learning, Campus Compact.

As a scholar, Strait has contributed to many publications and presentations, most notably for eService-learning. She’s the co-editor of the International Journal of Service-Learning in Teacher Education and is currently working on a text on Taking eService-learning to the next level to address social problems in communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh, master’s degree in elementary education and literacy from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and two doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota.