About Dr. Rhonda Sherrod

A powerful writer, dynamic orator, in demand scholar, and passionate activist, Rhonda Sherrod originally conceived and trademarked the SHE (Surviving, Healing, and Evolving)® concept specifically to address the needs of Black women. The idea flowered while Dr. Sherrod was a pre-doctoral intern at Harvard Medical School.  Since then, however, because she received so much feedback from Black men who felt their needs were being addressed by aspects of the SHE framework, Dr. Sherrod has extended the concept to address the needs of the Black community in general. Now, SHE (Surviving, Healing, and Evolving)® is used for workshops with men and in teaching workshops for educators. Dr. Sherrod has written essays about Black women, and newspaper articles about educational policy and about Barack Obama’s historic presidency, among other topics.  She has also conducted workshops at professional conferences, administered educational programs, spearheaded academic and community symposia, conducted research on violence among young African American males, and led groups designed to empower black women and enhance their ability to experience self-compassion. She works with clients as a life coach, too, specializing in issues concerning weight, holistic health, and wellness. Dr. Sherrod has appeared on several radio and television programs and presented several lectures and speeches before numerous groups and organizations, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conferences and the NAACP.  She also hosted a television program on cable television and wrote a column for The Huntsville Times newspaper in Alabama.  

Dr. Sherrod attended public schools in the western suburbs of Chicago.  She has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in English from Chicago State University, and a law degree from the University of Texas.  She practiced law for several years prior to enrolling at Jackson State University where she had her doctorate conferred in clinical psychology.  A licensed psychologist in the state of Alabama, Dr. Sherrod completed her pre-doctoral internship at Harvard Medical School before serving as a clinical fellow at Harvard.  She has also completed graduate classes in history and psychology at the University of Chicago and the Harvard University Extension School.