BIO
About Chalet
An impressive resume and a life well-lived, Chalet Jean-Baptiste is the epitome of the saying, ‘Living life to its fullest.’ Author, Professor, Artist, Speaker and Mother, Jean-Baptiste, is making the most out of every opportunity and sharing both her passion and expertise with the world.
With an inspiring life history in overcoming sexual abuse, healing through an unfaithful marriage, divorce, through her journey as a single mother, Jean-Baptiste’s firm grasp on real-life struggles combined with her genuine understanding of the human spirit have made her relatable to audiences around the world.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jean-Baptiste developed her passion for issues surrounding Black people and for writing. By the time she was just 19 years old, she had written, co-produced and directed the Off-Broadway play, The Sound of Love’s Fire, garnering media attention and earning awards. Her achievements didn’t stop there and after graduating from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, she began her career as a magazine writer for TIAA-CREF in New York City. During her career at TIAA, she began teaching at Medgar Evers College and has been teaching since. Jean-Baptiste now teaches at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Manassas campus as an Associate Professor where she teaches English, literature, African-American Literature, Poetry, Short Story, Mythology and Communications. Jean-Baptiste earned her M.A. in English from Long Island University as well as an M.A. in Communications from New York Institute of Technology.
Chalet A. Jean-Baptiste is the author of Black from Scratch, ReLive and Black Dresses Stain. Her latest book, ‘Be Mad …But Get to the Other Side’ is set to release in August 2020. Be Mad… But Get to the Other Side, takes readers on a pragmatic journey using anger to spur change in their own lives. With anecdotal experiences, along with historical stories, this modern take on self-help challenges readers to use this powerful emotion in inventive ways.
Chalet is currently working on her doctorate in Writing and Rhetoric at George Mason University.
In her own words
For in my years, I have seen the janitor become the CEO and the rich banker become the prisoner. I have cried with my Spanish and Asian sisters over our hearts being broken for the very same reason; and, I have broken bread with and served many whom I fundamentally disagreed with in many ways.
Papers/Conferences/Presentations
Presenter, Black Violence, Black Bodies, and Black Art, American Association for Blacks in Higher Education. New Orleans, Louisiana. March 2018
Presenter, “The Neoteric Intellectual:” A New Wave of the Black Intellectual Movement, The Black Doctoral Network. Atlanta, Georgia. October 2017
Presenter, “Empathetic Social Interactions” as a tool for retaining African-American Students at PWIs for Academia and Beyond, TYCA-WEST. Glendale, Arizona. October 2017
Presenter, “Empathetic Social Interactions” as a tool for retaining African-American Students at PWIs for Academia and Beyond, University of the West of Scotland, International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference. Paisley, Scotland. June 2017
Presenter, “The Neoteric Intellectual:” A New Wave of the Black Intellectual Movement, Howard University English Department Conference. Washington, D.C. April 2017
Presenter, “Empathetic Social Interactions” as a tool for retaining African-American Students, American Association for Blacks in Higher Education. Raleigh, North Carolina. March 2017
Presenter, Rhetoric and the Art of Doing and Making in the Pop Culture and Literature Classroom, Two-Year College Association Conference-SE. Charleston, South Carolina. February 2017
Presenter, Writing in the Digital Age in Digital Spaces, Old Dominion University Writing Conference. Norfolk, Virginia. 2015
Presenter, Successful Grant Writing 101– Women Empowering Through Connections Conference 2013
Presenter, Building Future Leaders: Retaining Minority Students– VCCS New Horizons. Richmond, Virginia. 2013
Guest Lecturer, Women and the Self- NVCC 2013
Presenter, Race Relations and Stereotypes in the movie, Crash- TCCD-NE 2009
Presenter, Writing and Public Relations: An Unbreakable Bond”- Life Communicators Association 2004
Professional Affiliations
Black Doctoral Network, Member 2017- Present
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, Member, 2015-Present
CCCC and NCTE, Member, 2014-Present
Judge, Prince William County Arts Council, 2016-2018
Personnel Committee, Member, NOVA, 2014-2017
Award recipient of two NOVA Educational Grant Awards, 2013
Faculty of the Year nominee, NOVA, 2013
Faculty Judge, Creative Writing Contest, 2013-Present
Provost Faculty Advisory Committee, Member, NOVA, 2012-Present
English Hiring Committee, NOVA, 2012
Curriculum Committee, Member, NOVA, 2011-2013
Public Relations Society of America, Member, 2001-Present
IN HER OWN WORDS
Sometimes its not about releasing what no longer serves and loves you, but releasing what you can no longer serve. There is honor in serving and loving those who can not reciprocate what you give, but there is also honor in recognizing the appointed time to let go.
Chalet in the Media
IN THE NEWS
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Chalet Jean Baptiste, author of Black From Scratch, shared the importance of telling the stories through an authentic narrative.
ON PODCASTS
In the past 12 months Chalet has been a guest on over 30 podcasts, including:
Overcoming Cheating & Abuse , What We Said
Racism in the USA, The Lightworkers Lounge
Falling In Love With Yourself After Facing Infidelity, Brown Girl Self-Care
How to use books to bring awareness of the black community, Sleep is for Billionaires Podcast