Brenda Combs Ed.D.

Inspirational Educator & Survivor

Brenda Combs Ed.D.

Inspirational Educator & Survivor

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Biography

Dr. Brenda Combs is a symbol of inspiration and perseverance to all who meet her. A little over a decade ago, she was a homeless crack addict, a petty criminal, a gaunt and hopeless wreck who had been shot and beaten and raped during the endless years she called “a freeway underpass in the worst part of Phoenix home.” It took hitting rock bottom for Dr. Combs to find the strength to turn her life around on a blistering summer day.

Dr. Combs now spreads a message of hope wherever she goes. Her journey has not been an easy one, however. Growing up in a middle-class family in Northern Arizona, she fell into a bad crowd, began using drugs, and dropped out of school. Her life continued on a downward spiral, leading to her serving jail time and becoming homeless. During her darkest days on the streets, she endured unspeakable trauma, including being beaten, shot, and raped.

Her journey, which has been called “From Homeless to Hero” by local media, has received tremendous national coverage, including an article in Reader’s Digest and interviews on The Today Show and CNN News. She has also appeared on radio talk shows across the country and been invited to sing and share her message at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

“If I can do it, anybody can do it,” she says. “I believe in myself and my ability to do my best. I’m intelligent and I’m capable of achieving greatness. I think every person has inside of them what it takes to succeed. The day I woke up on the streets and someone had stolen the shoes off my feet was the day I knew I had to change my life. I knew God had a better plan for my life than this.”

Dr. Combs began taking major steps to reenter society as a productive individual. She entered rehab and worked hard to overcome her addictions. While living in low income housing, she took a part-time job at a school located in an at-risk neighborhood not far from the streets that had been her “home.” As she worked with these children, she knew she had found her life’s calling: to teach and to inspire by sharing her own story of overcoming tremendous obstacles.

Once she set her sights on becoming a teacher, there was no stopping her. As a single mother of a young son who suffered a stroke at birth, she juggled three jobs while earning a bachelor’s degree in human services. She taught at a school for children with special needs and continued to pursue her education at Grand Canyon University, where she earned a master’s degree in special education in 2007. She has since received a doctorate in organizational leadership with an emphasis in education under a scholarship presented to her by Grand Canyon University, becoming one of their first doctoral students. She travels around the country sharing her story as the university’s “ambassador of inspiration & achievement” with a variety of audiences, including youth groups, churches, and professional organizations.

A victim of domestic violence in the past, Dr. Brenda Combs now serves as an advocate for domestic violence awareness. She also lobbies for the rights of the homeless community and, in 2009, was named a national ambassador for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's "Power to End Stroke" campaign. Recently, she was selected by the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury as an “Arizona woman of inspiration” for the second year in a row.

Speaker Videos

Homeless to Hero

Highlight Reel

Finding My Shoes

Self Worth, Addiction, and Homelessness

Using Faith to Overcome Adversity

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

From Homeless to Hero: Overcoming Trauma & Changing Your Life

A little over a decade ago, speaker Dr. Brenda Combs was a homeless crack addict and criminal who had been shot, beaten, and raped. Today, having completely turned her life around, the media has lauded her journey as being “from homeless to hero.” A single mother who successfully obtained a doctorate in organizational leadership, Dr. Combs motivates others with her inspirational story of perseverance. “If I can do it anybody can do it,” she says. “I think every person has inside of them what it takes to succeed.”

I Believe in Myself

A dynamic keynote speaker, Dr. Brenda Combs addresses larger groups in this one-hour presentation on self-esteem and motivation to turn any life around.

Dr. Combs can also facilitate a 45-minute interactive program designed for smaller groups, in which she works individually with each person to help create a vision and life goals.

Maximize Your Net Worth

In “Maximize Your Net Worth,” speaker Dr. Brenda Combs provides an inspirational talk on how to use one’s gifts and talents to create your own success.

Dr. Combs can also facilitate a 45-minute interactive program designed for smaller groups, in which she works individually with each person to help create a vision and life goals.

From Rags to Enrichment

“From Rags to Enrichment” is Dr. Brenda Combs’ personal story, which can touch on such topics as domestic violence, the importance of education, stroke awareness and prevention, rebounding from divorce, single parenting, and drug and alcohol abuse and recovery.

Dr. Combs can also facilitate a 45-minute interactive program designed for smaller groups, in which she works individually with each person to help create a vision and life goals.

Domestic Violence Awareness

The Importance of Education

Stroke Awareness & Prevention

Rebounding from Divorce

Single Parenting

Drug & Alcohol Abuse & Recovery

Testimonials

"Dr. Combs captivated the audience with her breathtaking story. Some were in tears and I could see that each one of them had someone in their life or knew someone, who knew someone who battled or dealt with the same circumstances. This became adamantly clear once the breakfast was over with the standing ovation of course and then book signing began. That day was so powerful and significant that they will be talking about Dr. Combs for years to come. She did a remarkable job."

- Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic

"Brenda did an excellent job. She held the audience captive with her story. She was very inspiring, and it was important that she put a face on poverty and homelessness."

- United Way of Pierce County

"Brenda, your participation in the Night of Sophistication at Syracuse University hosted by the MSU organization was one of the most inspiring presentations I have ever heard, and I believe I speak for the majority of the audience. A spectacular, unforgettable night."

- Syracuse University

"What I appreciated the most is that Ms. Combs traveled a distance to come to our school and share a time in her life that wasn’t so easy to talk about. I also appreciated her willingness to answer questions that the students had. Her presentation was dynamic and moving for the students and me."

- Instructional Specialist, Powell Junior High School

"Please extend my thanks for Dr. Combs for her participation in our commencement exercises. Her story was an inspiration to our students and parents. One gentleman told me afterwards that her presentation 'changed his life.'"

- Faith Christian School

"Thank you for coming to Dalewood Middle School. We really enjoyed you telling us your story. It was interesting. It was a great story. And you really can sing. You made me feel that I can be whatever I want to be."

- Student, Dalewood Middle School, Nashville, TN

"Your sharing how you turned a life of homelessness and drug addiction to being an advocate for people overcoming daunting challenges was a story of perseverance and strength. I was moved and I know many others were as well.

Sometimes our challenges are larger than at other times, but the public library is always there. I appreciate your relating the value of the library to your and your son’s life."

- Urban Libraries Council

“The moment she took the stage, Brenda took us on an incredible journey. A journey to our deepest fears of being abandoned, of finding ourselves homeless, of falling pray of the madness of addiction, of being abused…situations that for many, are the end of their story. Hers is also a journey with an incredible rebound and, finally, an ascension to continued success by inspiring others with her trajectory. Not only did Brenda find her “shoes” and walked away, with her testimonial she holds us by the hand and teaches us that no matter what happens –money problems, family problems, school problems, work problems, health problems- we can also stand up and start walking again. She is the best keynote speaker I have ever had the privilege to be touched by. And she can do the same for you and your circle.”

- United Way of Ventura County