Dr. Ashanti Johnson is an international expert and highly accredited STEM speaker, profiled in Wikipedia, several STEM textbooks and various other publications. She is also one of the first African American female Chemical Oceanographers in the country. Dr. Ashanti Johnson’s keynote topics include STEM Professional Development; Diversity and Inclusion; Women in STEM; Faculty Recruitment and Diversity; as well as Workplace and Career Empowerment; Environmental Science; Oceanography, Professional Development of High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Students; Pre-K to 12th grade STEM Learning and Enrichment; Student and Early Career Mentoring; Faculty and Staff Professional Development; Institutional Change; Organizational Leadership and Advancement Convocations. Her leadership experiences with non-profit organizations, universities and most recently as CEO and Founding Superintendent of Cirrus Academy, a state-wide STEAM charter school system in Georgia (GA) has brought her around the world to Samoa, Fiji, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Bermuda, Brazil, Spain, China, Mexico, and several US government agencies, universities, international conferences and Pre-K-12 organizations. Her initial interest in Oceanography and Marine Biology began at a young age, while watching Jacques Cousteau on television and was strengthened during an opportunity to interact with a female marine biology graduate student. After receiving her Ph.D. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University, she still cherishes the childhood memories that jump started her college and professional careers. She is known to frequently share her interest in the oceans with children, teachers, community leaders, college students and federal government officials. In additional to serving as an aquatic scientist and conducting research, Dr. Johnson has gained over 15 years of senior leadership experience in university, non-profit and K-12 organizations, including serving as the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA) Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment and Diversity, Institute of Broadening Participation (IBP) Executive Director, STEM Human Resource Development, Inc. CEO, Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success (MS PHD’S) Professional Development and Mentoring Institute Executive Director and Cirrus Academy Founding CEO/Superintendent.