Speaker

Yorel Lashley

Director of Programs for PLACE; Director of Student Empowerment for the Center for Arts Education and Social and Emotional Learning

Yorel Lashley, Ph.D., is the director of programs for UW’s PLACE (Professional Learning and Community Education) and the director of student empowerment for the Center for Arts Education and Social and Emotional Learning. He is a developmental psychologist interested in self-efficacy and social-emotional learning in arts, academics and integrated environments. He founded and is the director of Drum Power, which helps young people develop and practice social-emotional skills, discipline, community and leadership using West African, Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban percussion. Dr. Lashley created the Relationships First framework for building and maintaining healthy classroom culture, fully integrating academic content with social-emotional learning. Dr. Lashley is also a professional musician who trained with the Kankouran West African Dance Company in Washington, D.C., and the Harbor Conservatory for the performing arts in Spanish Harlem and led bands in New York City.