Our services
Consulting that meets communities where they are
Dr. Yvette L. Pye partners with universities, nonprofits, and community organizations to design and deliver strategies that are rigorous, culturally grounded, and built for lasting impact.
Expert guidance for doctoral learners navigating the dissertation journey
The dissertation process is one of the most demanding intellectual and personal challenges a scholar will face. Dr. Pye draws on nearly two decades of doctoral advising — including chairing 28 dissertations and supporting 120+ doctoral learners to degree completion — to provide individualized coaching that builds research capacity, strengthens academic writing, and keeps scholars moving forward. Pathway to PhD meets learners where they are and helps them get where they're going.
What's included
- One-on-one dissertation coaching and accountability
- Research design and qualitative methodology support
- Academic writing development and manuscript review
- IRB preparation and research ethics guidance
- Proposal and defense preparation
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion strategies grounded in research and practice
Effective JEDI work goes beyond policy statements and one-time trainings — it requires honest organizational assessment, sustained commitment, and strategies built for the specific culture and context of your institution. Dr. Pye brings her background as an IDI® Qualified Administrator, qualitative researcher, and organizational strategist to JEDI engagements that are rigorous, culturally grounded, and designed to create lasting change. She has led JEDI-focused initiatives at universities, nonprofits, and corporate organizations.
What's included
- Organizational JEDI assessment and gap analysis
- Inclusive strategy design and implementation planning
- Leadership development with a JEDI lens
- Facilitation of difficult conversations on race, equity, and belonging
- Policy review and institutional culture change consulting
Building educator and organizational capacity that outlasts the engagement
Effective systems require people who are equipped, confident, and continuously growing. Dr. Pye designs and delivers professional development grounded in adult learning theory — practical, relevant, and immediately applicable. Drawing on nearly two decades of teaching at the graduate and doctoral level, she works with educators, program staff, and organizational leaders to build capacity that sustains itself.
What's included
- Customized professional development design and facilitation
- Coaching and observation cycles for educators and leaders
- Workshop series for teams and organizations
- Leadership development for instructional and program leads
- Professional learning communities grounded in data and equity
Starting with what learners and community already bring
Assets-based instruction begins with a fundamental shift: seeing learners, families, and communities as rich sources of knowledge, experience, and strength. Dr. Pye works with educators and organizations to design learning experiences that build on existing assets — creating environments where all learners can thrive. This approach is grounded in her doctoral research in urban social geography and her years of community engagement work across the Twin Cities.
What's included
- Assets-based curriculum and lesson design
- Strengths-focused assessment frameworks
- Community knowledge integration into instruction
- Family and community engagement strategies
- Shifting organizational mindsets from deficit to asset
Rigorous learning that reflects who learners are and where they come from
Culturally relevant instruction is not a supplement — it is the foundation of effective teaching. Dr. Pye has designed CRT-based curriculum and trained educators in equitable instructional design through her work at Saint Mary's University's Responsive Teaching Program and Dream Big Institute. She supports educators and organizations in designing learning experiences that honor learners' cultural identities and histories while maintaining the highest academic standards.
What's included
- Culturally responsive curriculum review and redesign
- Instructional coaching with a cultural relevance lens
- Educator professional development on cultural competency
- Community and family voice integration into curriculum
- Facilitation of professional learning communities centered on CRP
Learning systems built for coherence, consistency, and scale
Great instruction doesn't happen by accident. Dr. Pye works with schools, universities, and organizations to build instructional systems that are coherent, consistently implemented, and designed to improve over time. Her experience developing the Ed.D. Leadership Competencies Framework at Saint Mary's University and redesigning the Master's Capstone advising process at Metropolitan State University reflects her commitment to systemic, standards-aligned design.
What's included
- Scope and sequence development
- Unit and lesson plan frameworks
- Assessment design and alignment
- Instructional coherence audits
- Standards and accreditation alignment (including HLC)
Measurable growth in how individuals and organizations navigate cultural difference
As an IDI® Qualified Administrator, Dr. Pye has facilitated more than 100 Intercultural Development Inventory assessments and individualized cultural competence plans. She works with universities, nonprofits, and corporate clients to build the intercultural skills needed to lead and collaborate across difference — grounded in research, not assumptions.
What's included
- IDI® assessment administration and debrief
- Individualized intercultural development plans
- Cross-cultural communication training
- Team and organizational intercultural competence workshops
- Facilitated workshops on multicultural communication and conflict navigation
Keynotes and presentations that challenge thinking and inspire action
Dr. Pye is a nationally recognized speaker on leadership, equity, and growth. She has presented at regional and national conferences, facilitated campus dialogues, and delivered keynotes for organizational convenings. Her speaking draws on her background in urban social geography, doctoral growth, and community development — grounding big ideas in practical, actionable insight.
What's included
- Keynote addresses for conferences and convenings
- Panel facilitation and moderation
- Workshop presentations for professional audiences
- Campus and organizational dialogue facilitation
- Custom presentations tailored to your audience and goals
Programs that center voice, build skills, and create real pathways
Dr. Pye has directed community engagement initiatives with African American, Asian, Latina, Native American, and Somali youth and families in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Through Dream Big Institute and her work with Girls Taking Action, she has designed mentoring frameworks, youth leadership programs, and adult learning workshops — always grounded in the assets and cultural identities of the communities served.
What's included
- Youth program design and development
- Mentoring framework design and coordinator training
- Social-emotional learning curriculum
- Community leadership development workshops
- Adult learning program design and facilitation
How we work
A partnership model built on trust
Discovery
We start by listening. Deep conversations with your team, stakeholders, and community members help us understand your context, challenges, and goals before we recommend anything.
Design
We co-create solutions with your team — not for them. Every framework, curriculum, or strategy is built collaboratively so your people own it from day one.
Implementation
We stay in the work with you. Whether that means coaching, facilitation, or on-site support, we're present through the hard parts of putting new systems into practice.
Sustainability
Our goal is to make ourselves unnecessary. We build internal capacity so your team can carry the work forward long after our engagement ends.
Not sure which service fits your needs?
Most engagements combine multiple service areas. Let's talk about where you are and where you want to go.