DR. PHYLLIS BIVINS-HUDSON
Author. Educator. Speaker.
Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson is an author and educator whose work explores resilience, identity, emotional clarity, and the transformative power of education. Through deeply personal memoirs, she examines how early experiences shape the lives we build and the relationships we choose. Her writing is rooted in honesty, reflection, and lived experience.
Early Life
Early Life
Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson grew up in poverty in Virginia during the 1950s–60s, facing early life challenges. Supported by education and faith, she believed in building a better future. As a young mother, she moved to New Jersey to start over, continuing her education and working toward her goals. These experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to education and inspired her memoirs Flying on Broken Wings and Finding December.
Education
Education
Education became a refuge and a path forward for Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson from an early age. Despite challenges, she excelled academically and was inspired by teachers who believed in her potential. After moving to New Jersey, she completed high school while working and raising her family, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Jersey City State College in 1979, where she also became the first Black homecoming queen.
She later earned a Master’s in English Literature from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English, including study at Oxford, and completed her Ed.D. in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2007. Her journey led to a remarkable 40-year career in education, guided by her belief in its power to transform lives.
Career & Professional Achievements
Career & Professional Achievements
Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson has spent over 40 years in education as a teacher, administrator, and mentor. She began her career teaching middle school English in New Jersey before moving into leadership roles in Paterson, supporting educators and improving programs.
She remains active as a mentor coordinator, co-founder of Rutgers’ teacher training program, and an education consultant. Holding advanced degrees including an Ed.D., she has received multiple honors and continues to champion the transformative power of education.
Writing Perspective
Writing Perspective
Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson writes from a lifetime of experience, focusing on resilience, childhood trauma, and personal growth. Drawing on her journey and career in education, her work explores how early experiences shape identity, relationships, and self-worth.
Through her memoirs Flying on Broken Wings and Finding December, she offers honest storytelling and a message of hope—showing that healing and growth are always possible.
Credentials & Authority
Ed.D.
Doctor of Education — a commitment to lifelong learning, educational excellence, and the transformative power of knowledge in shaping lives and communities.
Doctor of Education
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
Leadership Roles
Educator, Administrator, Consultant
Years of Experience
30+ years in education
Published Author
Memoir and educational works