Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Jewel Sophia Younge

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Jewel Sophia Younge as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2011.

Jewel Sophia Younge, Professor at Olive-Harvey College, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Jewel Sophia Younge’s commitment to excellence in Education.

Younge, who holds a BA in English and Theater from Amherst College, an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago, and an MA in the Art of Teaching from Washington Univeristy of St. Louis, began teaching in the fall of 1996 after training as an America Reads tutor working at German Gerena Community School in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Currently teaching Humanities and Composition, Younge has continuously contributed to the revival of the performing arts program, serving as founding chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department.  She also held a number of faculty administrative roles, most recently coordinating Level UP, a six week quick start program designed to improve the academic skills of our incoming students and eliminate or reduce their need for pre-college credit coursework.  She also served as a lobbyist for the renovation of the Bruce Cherry Theater.

“One of the most important aspects of my career preparation came when I served as a full-time volunteer for the Democratic Party during the election of 2000,” Younge explained.  “The skills I learned and practiced as a grass roots organizer have formed how I approach all aspects of my work.”

Having had a wonderful grandfather as a role model and positive influence all her life, Younge hopes to pursue other goals in the near future.  She would like to oversee a small children’s home, providing a safe home and strong educational platform for children in their early to late teens that live under the supervision of the foster care and adoption system.

Younge is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  She has contributed to numerous publications and has written several books.  She has also written numerous play and films throughout her career and received numerous awards, including a Promise Play and Very Offensive Play Award, a James Baldwin Playwriting Award, the Edward Jones Prize, was awarded for He Ain’t Heavy: Chicago, received honorable mention for the Lamia Ink One-Page Play Competition, received an award for Everything Outlaws are Made Of, was named the National Novel Writing Month Winner and received an Outstanding Reference Source Award.  When Jewel isn’t busy working, she enjoys cooking and roller skating.

For more information, visit http://www.ccc.edu.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Jewel Sophia Younge
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, December 16, 2011