Steyven Henry (’04)

“Brother Allen Johnson was my absolute favorite professor, and I loved how his required readings challenged us. I also recall convincing Dr. Vincent O’Neill to sing for us during class — he had a great voice. Also, I loved everyone in the Education Department!”

Steyven Jackson Henry studied English and Education at CBU and completed her BA in English in 2004. She immediately started her career in education by teaching middle school and, throughout the years, has held the roles of teacher, literacy specialist, professional development coordinator, data coordinator, assistant principal, and director of academics. Along the way, she earned her MA in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis — one of CBU’s fellow Lasallian universities.

Steyven advocates for “education beyond the classroom” to equip students with the needed skills to learn, retain, and apply new knowledge. Following that mission, she founded the Eminence Academy in 2020 and is currently the CEO and an instructor at the micro-school in Hernando, MS. The founding mission of the Academy is to provide scholars in levels K-12 a classical and Afrocentric-infused education that is grounded in the habits of learning. Using the Socratic method to learn, discuss, and understand critically, it gives young scholars of color the confidence, historical knowledge, and supreme academics to foster an undeniable love of God, self, service, and learning. In its two years of existence, Eminence Academy has been awarded two Next Step Grants from the VELA Education Fund.

Currently, Steyven is completing her doctorate in education with a dissertation focusing on Black students and literacy. Additionally, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and actively serves in her community by creating and donating Easter baskets, donating feminine hygiene products, and reading to toddlers and preschoolers.

The main lesson I learned at CBU that has helped me in life is the focus on service. One of the current pillars of my school now is service. Our most significant gift and our most significant requirement in life are to be of service to others.