Voycetress

Greetings.

Voycetress aka Dr. Shaashawn is a presence - the kind that fills a room before speaking; commanding and warm holding attention without demanding it. A keynote / featured educator who elevates your event, not just fills a slot.

Event planners, booking Dr. Shaashawn equals:
(1) Adaptability — you can host, moderate, speak, or facilitate depending on the need.
(2) Audience engagement — you keep people attentive, responsive, and emotionally connected.
(3) Smooth execution — you understand timing, flow, transitions, and how to support the event’s goals.
(4) Representation and cultural fluency — planners increasingly need talent who can speak across identities and communities with respect and skill.
(5) A collaborative partner — someone who makes their job easier, not harder.

Clients/Audiences, booking Dr. Shaashawn equals:
STORYTELLER - weaving lived and learned experience, intersectional insights with nuanced emotional intelligence into something people feel not just hear. Expert-level communication skills — speaking, moderating, hosting, facilitating.

FACILITATOR - connecting individuals, communities, organizations to information; not talking at people - bringing them into an experience. A polished, reliable partner — someone who prepares thoroughly and delivers consistently.

VOICE - alto mature voice delivering intention, clarity, and a sense of 'we're building and going somewhere together". Cultural humility and responsiveness — you navigate identity, equity, and community with fluency and care.

Dr. Shaashawn personifies creative collaboration — helping shape the tone, flow, and emotional arc of an event. Audiences navigate away from Dr. Shaashawn feeling seen, heard, energized, and challenged with nuggets (perspectives) they choose to take with them or leave.

SHAASHAWN S. DIAL, Ph.D. (email hidden) (link hidden) #drshaashawn #drvoyce

Dr. Shaashawn S. Dial, she/her pronouns, is a self-identified proud army brat, gemini, first born, natural hair rocker for 28+ years, Black, queer, womxn*. Nicknamed “The Voyce” by the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania poetry scene and her bff-business partner Nadeen ((link hidden)), Dr. Shaashawn is known for her huge smile and smooth alto voice through which you can ‘hear her smile’ on radio airwaves and in vocal narration. She is an award-winning radio broadcaster, author, edutaining facilitator, engaging emcee, polished plenary moderator, sex educator, thorough panelist, and unapologetic advocate, disruptor and leader-scholar. Dr. Shaashawn is the Founder of Voycetress Media, LLC ((link hidden)) providing consulting services via curriculum development, professional development, facilitation experiences regarding justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, sexual and reproductive health, and voice over services. Shaashawn is the author of two books: Acquired Taste of Love: Spice Filled Poems to Please Your Palate and Estrogen in the Atmosphere and a spoken word CD titled VOYCEMAIL. Shaashawn is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Incorporated, one of the Divine Nine, Urban View Channel 126 family, and a Knubian of Knarrative - if you know you know.

Dr. Shaashawn currently contributes her time, treasures, talents as the Vice President of Education with the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood (Education & Training | Virginia League for Planned Parenthood). Prior, she served as the Director of Education with Planned Parenthood Great Plains (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, & Missouri). Dr. Shaashawn is no stranger to making HERstory, she served as the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Stephens College, the second oldest womxn’s college in the U.S., one of 26 womxn’s colleges remaining in the country. She served as the inaugural Co-Vice Chair & Commissioner of Pennsylvania former Governor Tom Wolf’s Commission on LGBTQ Affairs ((link hidden)), the first commission of its kind in the nation. Dr. Shaashawn is the first Black womxn to hold the position of President of the Board of Directors for the LGBT Center of Central PA in 2017 ((link hidden)) and co-founded Studs Magazine, a quarterly publication that celebrated Handsomely Beautifully Women (masculine presenting womxn/ masculine of center) (phone number hidden)6. In 2007 while serving as the Program Director of Harrisburg, PA’s only urban radio station, WTCY1400 AM “THE TOUCH” she created and hosted The Shaashawn Dial Show:

A Dial Movement weekday 3pm- 7 pm; the first live and local weekday show in the station’s eighteen-year existence. Her additional broadcasting experience included: WWKL-FM Hot 92.1 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, KWWC-FM 90.5 in Columbia, Missouri, and WVST-FM 91.3 in Petersburg, Virginia. Dr. Shaashawn is the former Inaugural Director of Equity and Affirmative Action and Staff Liaison to the Harrisburg Human Relations Commission for the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and contributed her skills, work ethic and passion in additional roles as coordinator, director, adviser and adjunct professor with organizations such as: HACC Community College, Central Pennsylvania College, and the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg.

Dr. Shaashawn’s formal education includes: a Ph.D. in Administration and Leadership Studies (ALS) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, Pennsylvania), a master’s in Public Administration from Shippensburg University (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania), Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising in Higher Education from Kansas State University (Manhattan Kansas), and B.A. in Philosophy, Law, and Rhetoric from Stephens College (Columbia, Missouri).

Dr. Shaashawn’s purpose is to use her gift, her alto voice, for the facilitated exchange of information infused with arts performance to raise consciousness, close disparity gaps, minimize exclusion, while striving for liberation from ‘isms’, phobias, discrimination, and oppression. Shaashawn is on a mission to connect people to people and people to information by taking private conversations public, practicing the art of getting uncomfortable especially when defensiveness and awkwardness show up. Shaashawn creates brave learning environments for individuals, communities, and organizations to value reflect and skill build.

*The spelling of womxn is transgender inclusive

Dr. Shaashawn brings:

2 printed take-a-ways

Give-a-ways (prizes) for individuals who engage (number of give-a-ways determined by size of expected audience)

Dr. Shaashawn requests:

Stage design: For keynotes, a clear podium and seating; for interactive sessions, flexible seating or tables.

Lighting: Highlights the speaker, supports mood, and works with any visual aids. LED panels or moving lights can be used for emphasis.

Sound: Wireless mic(s), monitors, and PA system are compatible.

Visuals: Equipment to use Canva / PowerPoint/ Google slides, videos, or live streaming, ensure the projector, screen, or video wall is compatible and has stable internet.