School of Education and School of Environmental Sustainability Commencement Address

Steve Bynum

Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Chicago Public Media

Steve Bynum is the Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for Chicago Public Media, the parent company of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. He served as a Senior Producer at WBEZ for over 20 years for WBEZ’s “Worldview with Jerome McDonnell” and “Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons”.

For “Worldview”, Bynum created in-depth stories, features, series, film projects, and outreach events that connected listeners to global communities in Chicago and around the world. Sustainability and environmental justice were cornerstones of Worldview’s coverage like its live broadcast while walking with marchers during the 2019 Youth Climate Strike in downtown Chicago. Worldview regularly featured the work of the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), including broadcasting live from SES’s annual Climate Change Conference.

Bynum believes global citizenship is the most powerful tool to deconstruct systemic injustices, especially environmental racism. He also believes his Christian Faith (Eastern Orthodox) compels him to nurture and protect all of creation. He has won numerous awards in broadcast excellence and lectures and moderates discussions on topics related to media’s role in democracy, culture, and communities. Bynum is also a consultant on issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) in media.

In 2019, Bynum, McDonnell, and former WBEZ producer, Julian Hayda, co-founded “Worldview Solutions”, an independent, nonprofit, media social enterprise inspired by the show. Through a global lens, Worldview Solutions endeavors to leverage solutions-oriented storytelling, audience engagement, and other justice-centered initiatives, which reflect the resilience, joy, and progress of communities across the Great Lakes region.

Bynum serves as Board President for Theatre Y, and Board Vice President for Fulcrum Point New Music Project. He is also a Board Member for CircEsteem (a youth social circus), and Artworks Projects for Human Rights.

A University of Notre Dame graduate, Steve has a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Eastern Orthodox Theology from the University of Balamand.

Bynum is the proud father of Loyola alum, Joshua, who is a graduate of the School of Environmental Sustainability.