Dr. Gail Grabczynski received her Bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University; she had a double major in Psychology and Social Work and a minor in Business. Gail then attended the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work; her focus was as a school social worker. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work. Gail continued her educational pursuit by gaining her Master Online Teacher Certificate and also earned another Masters in the Science of Organizational Leadership from Dominican University. Gail earned a doctorate from Olivet Nazarene University, writing her dissertation on Emotional Intelligence and its relationship to social media use, interpersonal violence and gender.

Early in Gail’s career, she was offered an exceptional opportunity to create an innovative program for people who were considered to be high risk for HIV in the Chicagoland area. This gave Gail the opportunity to fully develop her beliefs in working with people in a holistic manner. She introduced treating people as “whole people” instead of utilizing the medical model, which focuses on the disease. Gail maximized her opportunities since this program was funded by the Centers for Disease Control; she was able to give presentations around the country, showing that we can effectively and successfully work with people holistically instead of disease focused. Gail’s holistic approach was well received by researchers, the medical community, and social service agencies, which propelled Gail into establishing her own company, Making the Difference International, Inc.

Making the Difference International, Inc. assists in program development for both for-profit and not-for-profit companies, the company’s focus is on long-term behavioral modification and alterations. Making the Difference International, Inc. has consulted with various organizations including the National Football League, Chicago Bears, Welfare to Work programs, character development programs, employee assistance programs, domestic violence programs and has conducted train the trainer programs around the world. In addition to her own consulting company, Gail is a tenured professor at Malcolm X College in the Behavioral Sciences Department. Her focus in the department of behavioral sciences includes HIV/AIDS education and domestic violence awareness. She has developed an annual World AIDS Day Event at Malcolm X College, in collaboration with the CORE Center, which is a state of the art AIDS facility.

Gail also started her own private practice. She utilizes multiple milieus with her clients, but most frequently utilizes cognitive behavioral interventions. Many of Gail’s clients are professional athletes or high-level executives that have unique and challenging situations that they need to navigate. Gail is able to assist in steering her clients in ways to navigate their situation that is most advantageous for her clients.