Dr. Charise Breeden-Balaam has a long career in social work and higher education administration. She is also a professor at several local colleges and universities, focusing on the social sciences. With this experience, she has worked with various clients in mental health services and corrections departments as well as public and private partnerships.

Most recently, Charise has worked as an administrator for the Equal Opportunity Program at Passaic County Community College and currently a  Director for Special Education Services for charter school in Camden, NJ. Charise has been recognized by administrators and peers for creating policies and procedures to ensure that each special education scholar receives appropriate accommodations and modifications.

Charise is the Founder and CEO of Road to the HOOD, which is a consulting company that assist individuals working towards a doctoral degree by providing mentorship and coaching to help students get PhinisheD/FinishEdD.

Charise earned an EdD in Community College Leadership from National American University.

Her dissertation was “Assessing Student Food Insecurity Levels at an Urban Community College.” The abstract of Charise’s dissertation is as follows:

“By providing a better comprehension of the food insecurity faced by college students, namely those in New Jersey, it may be possible to determine specific programs that may serve to help this population. Moreover, since this topic has received little research focus, it is unknown as to whether food insecurity may affect academic performance for college students. This mixed-methods research study explored food insecurity at an urban, two-year community college in Passaic County, New Jersey.”

Charise is a Licensed Social Worker that earned an MSW from Rutgers University, and a BS in Sociology from Thomas Edison State College. She is a member and leader of several international, national, and New Jersey organizations. Just a few of Charise’s roles include current secretary of the Successful Speaking Club, Toastmasters International; past chair of the Hudson County Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; current member of the Essex County Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers; current corresponding secretary of the Mercer County Unit of the National Council of Negro Women; current member (and past chair of the Hudson County Chapter) of the National Association of Social Workers; past member of the Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey (EOFPANJ); current board member of NASPA Center for Women Board Advisory Board and current member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

In addition, Charise is an accomplished professional speaker who has given presentations at several conferences, including Black Doctoral Network Students,  the National Council on Black American Affairs and Rutgers University. Her speaking topics include, but are not limited to: “The Mental Health Burrito Bowl”; “Special Education Empowerment”; “Valuing Our Adjuncts”; and “Food Insecurities Among College Students.” Charise continues to make herself available as a professional speaker even during these unprecedented times.

Charise is a leader who believes that education is the only way to move the country forward. Charise is governed by a quote by  Dorothy Height noted, “I want to be remembered as one who Tired."

Charise is the proud mother of two great children, her son Dachary and  daughter Sadaqah, and enjoys spending time with her dog, Dr. Fluffy.