Dr. Joyce Louise Caldwell Stevos (Wunne Ahtuk, a citizen of the Pokanoket Nation, is a Rhode Island native, a graduate of Classical High School, and has earned a Bachelor and Masters degree from Rhode Island College and a doctorate from the University of Rhode Island/Rhode Island College Joint Program in Education. She is also an adjunct professor in Educational Studies at Rhode Island College.
As a teacher and supervisor of Social Studies in the Providence Public Schools, Dr. Stevos was a leader in implementing the study of Black History, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, law-related education and cultural awareness.. She was the primary designer of the Government and Law Magnet at Central high School and the Teacher Academy at Mt. Pleasant High School. Dr. Stevos was the Director of Strategic Planning and Professional Development in the Providence Public Schools where she worked with teachers and administrators to begin and implement the first wave of educational reform in the District.
For 25 years, Dr. Stevos worked with different publishing companies in writing and critiquing history and civics texts for middle and high school students. After retiring from the Providence School Department Dr. Stevos worked as a consultant with Trinity Restoration, Inc to develop and incorporate the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts Charter School that opened in 2009 for Providence students from grades 7-12. Dr. Stevos was president of the Board for 7 years.
In giving back to the community, Dr. Stevos has served as President of the Urban League of RI, was an incorporator and officer of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and has served on the Boards of the Providence Public Library, the Providence Preservation Society, the Heritage Harbor Board and the Rhode Island Board of Education. She is a member and past Regent of the Narragansett-Cooke-Gaspee Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Boards of the Heritage Hall of Fame the Heritage Harbor Foundation, the Rhode Island College Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Gamm Theatre.
Dr. Stevos has been recognized by many community groups for her contributions to education and the Rhode Island Community. In 1992 she was named a Milken National Educator from Rhode Island, in 2014 received the Classical Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2018, she received the UCAP All Kids Award and was recognized as a Woman of Vision by the Providence Chums. In 2019. she received the Living the Dream Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr State Commission, the Charles B. Willard Achievement Award from the Rhode Island College Alumni Association, and a Humanitarian Award from Marquis Who’s Who. Last year she received the Honorary Chairs’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.