Dr. Tammi McMillan named VP, Chief Program Officer of the Hosanna House
Dr. Tammi McMillan, Ed.D., proudly walked across the stage to receive her “Women of Excellence” award from the New Pittsburgh Courier as a member of the Class of 2021. In 2023, Dr. McMillan proudly accepted an Onyx Woman Leadership Award, as the director of The Power of One Teacher Diversification Program at Carlow University. So, it’s no surprise when the rumors became reality—Dr. McMillan has returned “home” of sorts, as the new Vice President and Chief Program Officer of the Hosanna House Inc., the Courier has learned.
Since the early 1990s, the Hosanna House, located on Wallace Avenue in Wilkinsburg, has gathered people and pulled its resources together with a single purpose in mind, ending a life cycle of poverty and helping individuals and families reach their maximum potential, according to its website.
Dr. McMillan previously spent 21 years at the Hosanna House, where she led educational programs to NAEYC accreditation, founded a PDE-licensed kindergarten, secured Pre-K funding, and played a pivotal role in the creation of a state-of-the-art makerspace facility, according to a news release.
But the last thing Dr. McMillan does is rest on her laurels. In 2022, she completed a seven-month training course as part of The Advanced Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Academy. Cohort members of the Academy aspire to become CEOs or leaders of an entire company/organization. That same year, 2022, she became a children’s book author, with “Sunni Rae’s World: What Are Your Superpowers?”
The book promotes self-empowerment and cultural identity in young children, a theme reflected in her broader mission to ensure all children receive affirming, high-quality education. The Courier has learned that Dr. McMillan will now oversee all of the Hosanna House’s core programmatic areas, including early education, youth development, family support services, health and wellness, and workforce initiatives.
It’s estimated that the Hosanna House impacts up to 40,000 people per year. “Dr. Tammi brings not only her intelligence and expertise, but also her passion, determination, and unwavering love for children and families, said Leon Haynes, CEO of the Hosanna House, in a statement. “Under her leadership, we are on a promising path toward greater impact and innovation.”
Dr. McMillan is a graduate of the Pennsylvania HBCU, Cheyney University (B.S. in Elementary Education). She earned her master’s degree in Leadership from Duquesne University and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Point Park University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
“Hosanna House is where I feel like I’m walking in my purpose,” Dr. McMillan said in a statement obtained by the Courier. “Being creative, helping people grow, walking in their strength. That’s what this place is all about.”