DR. DEIDRE GRIM

     As a social scientist, planner, and activist, Dr. Deidre Grim, is one who does not believe in defeat, loss, or excuses.  Her education and experience span the globe, but her roots are deeply embedded in the South.  Deidre calls herself a lifelong learner because her mom/grandmother taught her that education and knowledge are two things no one can ever take from her.  Dr. Grim grew up in South Carolina, where her passion for equality and equity took root at a very young age because of her family’s dedication to activism and service.  She is a wife and mother of 3 sons and a daughter, who have all taught her patience and diligence and have embedded her life even more in service to the community. Over the last decade, Deidre has worked in nonprofits and governmental agencies to ensure that every person she comes in contact with receives a hand up.   

      Dr. Grim holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from South Carolina State University.  She intended to become a medical doctor but put those aspirations on hold to raise her children.  While in the workforce, she found a love of real estate and community and returned to school.  She then received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with a concentration in Real Estate Development from the College of Charleston. She graduated with Honors and was awarded the Pat Kelly for Social Activism.  She then completed a dual Master's in Public Policy and Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California- Irvine’s School of Social Ecology. She was the Raymond Watson Scholar because of her academic achievements and worked in the community.  Deidre completed her doctorate in (Urban) Planning, Policy, and Design at the University of California-Irvine, where her research focused on the effects of redlining on residents' quality of life in low-wealth communities.  

     Deidre is a lifelong learner and very passionate about her education.  So much that while most stop after a doctorate, she has just completed her Masters in Public Administration at  Columbia Southern University. In her spare time, she loves to study the beautiful landscape of Savannah, advocate for equity, and volunteer with organizations that work to change the trajectory of the next generations. Dr. Grim is the Nutrition Program Manager for the Centers of Disease Control’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Grant here in Savannah and the Chief Executive Officer of Ivory Bay Community Development Corporation.  Also, Deidre was named one of Georgia Trend’s 2020 40 under 40.  While Deidre appreciates the awards and accolades, her real joy comes from ensuring others, especially minorities, can create generational wealth, which has historically unattainable.  Dr. Grim knows that what she is working towards is much greater than herself, and just as Vice-President Kamala Harris teaches, “If you are fortunate to have an opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other people have those opportunities as well.”