Barbara Shwom

Barbara Shwom has worked and lived in Evanston for more than 30 years and is excited for the next phase of her Evanston journey to be with Y.O.U.

Barbara is Professor of Instruction in Writing at Northwestern University’s Cook Family Writing Program and is also the Managing Principal of Communication Partners, a  communication consulting firm headquartered in Evanston that she runs with her husband, Karl Keller. She is also the proud parent of an adult son who was educated in the Evanston school system and has recently returned to Chicago to join the family business.

Complementing her professional work, Barbara is committed to improving educational access, opportunities, and support to people who have been underserved. Currently, she is coordinating tutoring support for incarcerated students in the Northwestern Prison Education Project; and she is working with the Chicago not-for-profit Women Initiating New Directions (WIND) to provide educational programming for women who are in jail or are transitioning from the prison system to the community.

To bring that volunteer service closer to home, Barbara is delighted to serve on Y.O.U.’s board and participate in the organization’s mission to meet the emerging needs of young people and their families in Evanston