Tiara Wheatley, an educator, mentor, equity advocate, and lifelong Chicagoan, currently serves as Chief of Staff at the Surge Institute, where she manages and leads the Office of the CEO. In this role, she is responsible for driving strategic alignment across departments, supporting executive decision-making, and creating the conditions for Surge’s senior leadership to thrive.
Prior to this, Tiara served for three years as Vice President of Alumni Impact at Surge, where she led programming and engagement for a growing network of nearly 500 senior education leaders of color across eight cities and one national program. She built a dynamic and values-rooted alumni engagement program that celebrated alumni and centered community, continuous learning, and real-world impact. Through intentional programming and shared leadership, she created spaces for alumni to grow, stay connected, and lead boldly—together—at the local and national level.
Tiara is also the founder of the Young Women’s Leadership Society (YWLS) and the annual Little Black Dress Night (LBDN). YWLS is a STEM-focused mentorship and leadership development program dedicated to empowering high school girls of color in Chicago with interests in STEM, entrepreneurship, and public service. Through workshops, professional exposure, and hands-on learning experiences, YWLS helps girls build the confidence, skills, and community to thrive in spaces where they are often underrepresented. LBDN complements this work by convening Chicago’s female STEM and business leaders to raise funds, uplift young talent, and honor women who are challenging the status quo and driving innovation.
Before joining Surge in February 2022, Tiara spent over a decade at Chicago Tech Academy High School (ChiTech), where she played a transformative role in both academics and external partnerships. As Assistant Principal, she led the school’s shift to restorative practices, eliminated exclusionary discipline policies, and launched ChiTech’s first Race & Equity Working Group. She later served as Senior Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Engagement, leading fundraising and real-world learning programs. It was through this work that Tiara discovered her first professional passion: serving Chicago’s youth at one of the city’s most dynamic schools.
In recognition of her impact, Tiara received the Ann Atwater “Best of Enemies” Award at the 2019 Chicago premiere and was named a 2023 recipient of the ATHENA Young Professionals Award.
A proud product of the Chicago Public School system, Tiara earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and holds a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Loyola University. She is also a 2020 alumna of the Surge Fellowship (Chicago).
Tiara’s mission is rooted in the betterment of BIPOC communities and creating lasting change through leadership, love, and legacy. She hopes her work serves as a living example to her two beloved nieces, Amia and Taelor, of the power of education, community, and unapologetic purpose.