Chair, Salem's Race Equity Task Force
Shawn Newton is a resident of Salem, MA and is the Associate Dean of Students at Suffolk University in Boston where he oversees, among many other offices, the University’s Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion and chairs the University's Bias Prevention and Advisory Team. Newton is the co-founder of Newton Consultancy Group where he specializes in facilitating conversations and workshops on race & racism. Additionally, Shawn chairs a Race Equity Task Force where he was appointed by Mayor Kim Driscoll to lead race equity efforts for the City of Salem, MA. He also serves on the board of 1Race, a Salem based non-profit that coordinates high school workshops to educate youth and school educators on issues of race and the Plummer Youth Promise, a non-profit that strives towards permanency for foster youth in their care.
Shawn Newton has previously served as the Assistant Dean of Students at Salem State University and adjunct professor where he taught courses including Undoing Racism and Human Diversity & Social Work Practice. Newton earned a BS in Criminal Justice from Salem State University, a MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently enrolled at the University of Southern California where he is working on his doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership in the Rossier School of Education.
Shawn has over 25 years of experience educating people of all ages on diversity, race and inclusion.