Money Talks with Diana Isern

Ever wish money talks at home (or anywhere) felt less stressful and more hopeful? Join Queens educator Diana Isern, author of Money Talks (Beacon Press), in conversation with Dr. Qiana Spellman of St. John’s University. Families and learners of all ages will leave with simple, empowering ways to talk about money at home and in their communities.

About the author:

Diana Isern is an Queens-raised educator, author, and Accredited Financial Counselor® who spent 20 years in NYC public schools, including 15 as a high school assistant principal, where she taught finance and founded an investing club for young women. Diana’s passion is making money make sense, helping students, families, and educators feel more confident and hopeful about their finances. She is the author of Money Talks: An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Financial Empowerment (Beacon Press) and Your Money, Your Future (Bloomsbury Academic), and her work has been featured in Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and MarketWatch. She leads learning and engagement at Stackwell Capital and lives in Kew Gardens with her family.

In conversation with:

Dr. Qiana Spellman is an Assistant Professor in Counselor Education at St. John’s University and a former NYC public school counselor with 15 years of experience. She holds a doctorate in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, along with degrees in community health, bilingual school counseling, and psychology.

Her research explores how racism, discrimination, and microaggressions affect Black and Brown students’ experiences in school. She also studies how culturally responsive, social justice-informed initiatives can foster healing, belonging, and empowerment, from using hip-hop and spoken word to building community through chess and supporting students in temporary housing. Dr. Spellman has presented at national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association and the #HipHopEd Conference.