SHANTERRA MCBRIDE is an international teacher, speaker, author, and preacher with expertise in youth development, diversity and inclusion and allyship. In 2014, she founded MARVELOUS UNIVERSITY, a social enterprise designed to meet the diverse needs of girls and young women as they navigate life. Working with young people from all backgrounds, Marvelous University focuses on life coaching, success planning, mentorship, and leadership development. As part of this efforts, Shanterra trains adults who engage with youth to ensure that there are well-equipped and trusted allies in the lives of the young people.

 

Shanterra’s voice has a global presence with invitations to speak across continents. For example, in 2018 and 2019, respectfully, she traveled to Morocco and Peru, to deliver workshops to girls on valuing themselves and others. In 2019, she spoke in four South African cities about girls’ empowerment, with an emphasis on creating safe spaces, combating gender-based violence, and anti-bullying.

 

As an author, Shanterra published Love Your Jiggle: The Girls’ Guide to Being Marvelous, an inspirational book for girls aged 11-17 years. Themes covered include self-worth, maintaining friendships, decision-making, conflict management, self-empowerment and diversity and inclusion.

 

As a first-generation college graduate, Shanterra knows all too well what it means to pursue your passion, which is what she seeks to instill in young people. As a native Texan, Shanterra received a full vocal performance scholarship to Southern Methodist University (SMU). She soon realized that although she loved singing, something was missing from her life and that was the passion and opportunity to serve others. She changed her major, many times, but eventually felt at home with Sociology and later added Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. After earning her two degrees from SMU, Shanterra furthered her education by obtaining a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

 

Shanterra resides in Dallas, Texas and in 2019 was awarded the Profiles in Leadership Award from SMU for having a significant impact on the city of Dallas and on the quality of life for girls and women all over the country.

 

Shanterra’s career has been dedicated to advancing youth development initiatives and creating space for brave conversations, consulting for organizations like Generation Change, the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church and Manhattan College. She served as the Deputy Executive Director of a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the culture of violence among young people. She was also an Assistant Principal in a private, Catholic high school in Atherton, CA, where she encouraged her students to embrace themselves as unique individuals and to use their voice of privilege to speak for those who are not heard.

Shanterra stays grounded through her faith, community of family and friends, and relationships with her mentees. These are constant reminders of her life’s purpose which is to mend, motivate and empower young people and those young at heart, to believe that they are, without reservation, completely MARVELOUS!