Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph.D

Dr. Yvonne Ragan, CEO/President of Y.M. Ragan Consulting, LLC, and co-partner of Ragan & Amos Consulting, is recognized for her expertise in strategic planning, policy development, educational planning, as well as Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice. As former President of Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, Dr. Ragan served a major role in leading the efforts of this unique public/private partnership to improve educational and developmental outcomes of children primarily living on the East Side of Buffalo. Serving a successful tenure as principal of Westminster Community Charter School, Dr. Ragan is recognized as an influential academic and community leader.

Most recently, Dr. Ragan was appointed by the NY State Commissioner of Education and the Buffalo Schools Superintendent to serve as the Independent Monitor to lead in the transformation of a failing public school, by serving as the educational advisor and executive coach to the newly appointed principal of the school. Prior to coming to Buffalo, Dr. Ragan, as principal, was instrumental in achieving Blue Ribbon status for a failing middle school in the Chicago Public Schools system, and she also led a professional development center and served as executive director for the Chicago Cluster Initiative, which involved coordinating funding and social services for the public schools. Dr. Ragan earned the honor of “Distinguished Alumni” of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Golden Key Honor Society, Past President of the Buffalo Chapter of the Links, Inc. Dr. Ragan currently serves on the following Boards: Buffalo Urban League, the John R. Oishei Foundation, St. Bonaventure University and WNED/WBFO Public Broadcasting. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of Independent Health, and Independent Health Foundation. Most recently, County Executive Poloncarz and Governor Cuomo honored Dr. Ragan with appointments to the Erie County Welfare Advisory Board and New York State Advisory Board for the Office of Children and Family Services, respectively. The NYS Commissioner of Education most recently appointed Dr. Ragan to the position of Independent Monitor.

Dr. Ragan earned a bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt University, a master’s degree in education from Chicago State University, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago.