Most recently, Sonya served as an advisor to Mayor Justin Bibb and a member of his Cabinet as the Chief for Youth and Family Success. In this role, she worked across the early childhood, youth development, and aging ecosystems, in partnership with philanthropy, business, other public agencies, and the nonprofit sector, to create and maintain programs and opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Her work activated city-wide collaborative efforts, delivering a system of support that strengthened families and neighborhoods by expanding resources and improving services.
Previously, she was the Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the Fab Foundation. This spin-off of the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) supports communities worldwide in innovation through personal fabrication and the scale of Fab Labs. Sonya was charged with supporting the next iteration of the fab lab program and the organization's strategic endeavors. Sonya manages signature projects for the Fab Foundation, including the Brilliant Career Labs, SCOPES-DF, and partnerships with Chevron, The GE Foundation, Adam Savage and Tested.com, The Boston Celtics, and DARPA. Sonya initiated and facilitates a new national field-building coalition with nonprofits dedicated to K-12 digital fabrication and maker education.
Before joining the Fab Foundation, Sonya was the founding Director for a national place-based education and community development strategy at the Sisters of Charity Foundation. She also managed a $3.5 million STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) effort as the Executive Director for Northeast Ohio’s STEM initiative. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Sonya is an active civic leader serving on various boards and advisory committees. Additionally, Sonya manages her own consulting business, Synchronicity, a boutique firm that supports clients in the cultivation and execution of new ideas through facilitation, project management, and research & planning.
A sought-after speaker with past engagements including the NSBE National Convention, SXSW, Aspen Ideas Festival, National Governors Association, and the White House, Sonya contributes to commentary surrounding violence prevention, education, and the workforce in today’s global society.
Sonya received a B.A. in International Studies and History from Kenyon College and an M.Ed. in Education from Cleveland State University. She also holds Certificates in Executive Education and Appreciative Inquiry from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Master of Education, Cleveland State University
Major: Adult Learning and Development
Bachelor of Arts, Kenyon College
Major: International Studies and History
Violence Prevention and Reduction
Early Childhood
K-12 STEM Education
Coalition Building and Network Design
Leadership and Organizational Development
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Community Development
EDU 210, Family & Community in Early Childhood Education (Baldwin Wallace University)
Ashe Fellow
BCDI Fellow
White House Champion of Change (2016)
German Marshall Memorial Fellow (Summer 2009)
CORO Fellow, Cleveland Executive Fellowship (2006-2007)
“Gun Violence Awareness Month: Cleveland’s Peacemakers.” (2024). Article published by the National League of Cities, Washington, DC. https://https://www.nlc.org/article/2024/06/03/gun-violence-awareness-month-clevelands-peacemakers/
“Scaling a Community of Practice for Education in STEM through Digital Fabrication.” (2019). White paper published by The Fab Foundation, Boston. https://www.scopesdf.org/playbook/
Tracy, E. M., Golden, S., Jones-Pryor, S., & White, P. (2004). Parent and staff views of parent involvement: An exploratory study. School Social Work Section Connection. 3-7.
Cleveland Thrive (Violence Prevention), DOJ/BJA CVIPI, Principal: Sonya Pryor-Jones (City of Cleveland)
Exploring a Collaborative Model for Broadening Participation in STEM through Digital Fabrication and Making, National Science Foundation, Principal Investigators: Lassiter, Pryor-Jones| Abstract
Scaling a Community of Practice for Education in STEM through Digital Fabrication (SCOPES-DF), Chevron
Mobile Fab Lab Program, GE Foundation
Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood, Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood, Ohio Department of Education Straight A Fund