Kimberly McGlonn’s career is a testament to her unwavering belief that bold leadership must serve the common good. Through every chapter of her work—as a designer, educator, founder, and author—she has championed a vision of business that centers justice, dignity, and sustainability.

At Grant Blvd, Kimberly built more than a fashion brand—she built a values-driven company designed to fight mass incarceration and economic exclusion. She prioritized hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, paying living wages, and sourcing sustainable, upcycled materials to reduce environmental impact. The company became a model for how design can be both beautiful and reparative, offering jobs with dignity while telling stories of resilience and power through fashion.

With Blk Ivy Thrift, she deepened her commitment to cultural preservation and inclusive economies. This curated retail concept doesn’t just celebrate vintage Black style of the Civil Rights Movement—it honors a legacy of resistance and reimagines thrift as a space for intergenerational dialogue, economic justice, and community repair. The store's hiring practices intentionally welcome people from nontraditional work backgrounds, and every decision—from merchandising to playlist curation—is shaped by a belief in the power of representation and belonging.

Through these ventures, Kimberly has shown what it looks like to align profit with purpose, using entrepreneurship as a tool for systems change. She fights for a world where everyone—especially those too often overlooked—has access to meaningful work, fair pay, and the opportunity to thrive. Her portfolio is proof that when we lead with boldness and imagination, we build more than businesses—we build movements.

Kimberly McGlonn, PhD

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, Department of Educational Policy, Practice, & Theory December 2007
Major Advisor: Dr. Rita Culross
Dissertation: “Experiences & Expectations of Beginning Teachers of the Gifted”
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Ed.Specialist in Curriculum Theory, August 2003
Major Advisor: Dr. William Pinar
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction- Secondary English Education, August 2002
Thesis: “The Weight of Race”: An Exploration into Black Male Student Perspective on Minority Teacher Shortage
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
B.A in English-Literature, August 2001
Minors: Sociology and African & African-American Studies
Founder & CEO, Blk Ivy Thrift
February 2023-Present
Serves as CEO & Director of Retail Operations for Blk IVy Thrift, a one of a kind thrift/vintage concept shop from Kimberly McGlonn, founder of Grant Blvd is dedicated to the fashion of the Civil Rights Movement. Spanning the tumultuous moment between 1954 (Brown v. Board of Education) and 1972 (the presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm), Blk Ivy aspires to pay homage to the style of the revolutionary figures of the era such as James Baldwin, Dr. King and Angela Davis. By showcasing curated artifacts from the era like rare vintage vinyl and first edition books, it hopes to inspire a revival of the spirit of their resistance centered in a revival of their fashion aesthetic. It is a call to action for the protection of our human rights & our civil rights, thoughtfully curated with our closets & homes in mind.

Founder & CEO, Grant Blvd
October 2017- Present
Serves as CEO, Creative Director & Director of Sustainability for Grant Blvd, a sustainable women’s apparel brand dedicated to supporting incarcerated & returning citizens. This brand aims to bring to market womenswear that has been sourced with a mindfulness of environmental impact. All seven of Grant Blvd’s design collections adhere to the highest level of sustainability- no new fabric, which means no new chemicals and no new waste. Additionally, by partnering with Philadelphia based non-profits, it aims to train returning citizens (primarily women) in industrial sewing, and then to manufacture garments exclusively in Philadelphia. Responsible for overseeing a creative team of 14.

Faculty, Westphal College of Design
Drexel University
September 2022-Present
Instructor of design & merchandising courses for undergraduate students. Course focus includes retail operations, digital commerce, and product design. Dedicated to fostering a classroom culture of care and courageous conversations about the intersection of business and ethics.

English Department Chair
August 2005- February 2018
Lower Moreland Township High School, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Provided leadership in the development and articulation of subject area and district level goals for this award winning district. Responsible for designing department teaching schedules, conducting department meetings, developing annual department budget, and acting as an instructional resource for English teachers. Responsible for curriculum development and strategic planning. Also prepared objectives and lesson plans for 9th grade World Literature and 11th grade English course. The World Literature course curriculum focused on colonialism. The 11th grade course centered on the experiences of marginalized groups/voices within the American story with a focus on social justice and digital storytelling.
Article in Refereed Journal
McGlonn-Nelson, K. (2006) "Looking Outward": An Exploration into the Intersections of
Sociocultural Theory and Gifted Education. Journal for Secondary Gifted Education, Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, Athens, GA.

BOOK REVIEW
Piirto, J. (2004). Understanding Creativity. Scottsdale, AZ: Great Potentional Press. In
Roeper Review, 27(2), 123.
November 2004- 2008
“Experiences & Expectations of Beginning Teachers of the Gifted”
Doctoral Dissertation
Directed by Dr. Rita Culross

August 2001- August 2002
“The Weight of Race: An Exploration into Black Male Student Perspective on the Minority Teacher Shortage”
Master’s Thesis
Directed by Dr. Matthew K. McCurrie

May- August, 2000
“America’s Forgotten Garden: An Examination of the Formation and Perpetuation of Midwestern Urban Ghettos “
Directed by: Dr. Thomas Durant (LSU- Dept. of Sociology)ion
- Vice President of Social Impact, Fitler Club
- Executive Director, Fitler Foundation
- Podcast co-host, “The School for Disrupters“
- Podcast host, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, “Educator’s Playbook”
- Volunteer, Books Through Bars: non-profit which provides free access to books to those who are incarcerated
- Board of Directors, Philadelphia Mural Arts