Pamela Y. Keye, EdD

Backed by 30 years of leadership in the educational field, Pamela Y. Keye, EdD has excelled since 2012 as the Chief Executive Officer of her own business, Keye Global Group LLC, through which she serves and consults individuals, organizations, and nonprofits in public, private, higher, and correctional education settings. A leader, fixer, specialist, and expert who believes in the “potential of humanity to evolve in service to good,” she was previously active as the Chief Social Equity Officer at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the first Black university in the United States. In this role, she conducted research in education and criminal justice reform; assisted individuals with Title IX, the Early Education and Out of Time Capital Fund, and student conduct to ensure that the campus is a welcoming environment for all; and worked to help underprivileged students succeed; and forges relationships with outside partners to bridge the gap between a degree and making it relevant in the workforce.

Throughout her career, Dr. Keye takes the greatest pride in the fact that so many individuals she’s guided as an administrator have been able to advance and do well professionally. She has long been steered by words said by her mother: “Education is a friend of the rich, but it is the salvation of the poor.” Taking it to heart, she has gravitated toward an eventual career in education since she was a child. Upon graduating from high school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology and graduated with honors from Lincoln University, a Master of Arts in education administration from Old Dominion University, and later a Doctorate in Education Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Dr. Keye began as a teacher and then advanced to the role of principal at William H. Ruffner Middle School within the Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. She went on to serve as senior director of research, testing, and statistics at this school district from 1996 to 2000 before relocating to Maryland, where she was active as the associate superintendent at Montgomery County Public Schools; executive director of intervention services at Baltimore Public Schools; and regional superintendent of schools at Prince George’s County Public Schools. In addition, she has found success across several companies: as the director of research and design at Mission Launch, Inc., co-founder and chief learning officer at R3 Score Technologies, Inc., a peer reviewer for the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice, and reentry center manager at the Institute for Criminal Justice.

Outside of these endeavors, Dr. Keye also offered her technical consultancy skills to the Department of Adult Education at Manchester Public Schools as well as had involvement in the Center for Social Innovation. In addition, she worked for a nonprofit in Philadelphia, specifically within its Institute for Community Justice, as a vendor provider for the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition, and a frequent volunteer at soup kitchens and facilities for the homeless. She also mentors young people involved in the criminal justice system, offering guidance and support, and those interested in pursuing doctoral degrees, with a particular focus on those dealing with issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Looking toward the future, Dr. Keye believes it will be important for people to remember what brings them together, regardless of their differences. To achieve this, she said, “We should strive to gain perspective through active listening and empathy and focus on seeing and working with people for who they truly are rather than through preconceived notions.” In 2025, she was selected to serve as a Standards Commissioner within the Corrections Education Association and as a feature presenter at the Michigan Adult Education Conference. As a testament to her continued excellence, Dr. Keye was recognized as the Education Consultant of the Decade by the International Association of Top Professionals for 2025.