More than a speaker. A catalyst for change.

Born and raised on the Westside of Chicago to a single mother, Loyce Edward Spells, Jr. was reared in a multigenerational home filled with uncles, cousins, his mother, and grandmother. He grew up in a Chicago Housing Project formerly known as Rockwell Gardens, where violence, unemployment, drug abuse, and incarceration were high. The only things that were low were the morale of the community and the optimism for the improvement of their lives. Dr. Spells was inspired and empowered by the resilience of his mother and grandmother, who never lowered the standards for treating people with love and respect and pursuing a good education. Dr. Spells was the first to graduate from a university, the first to graduate from graduate school, and the first and only member of the family to obtain a doctorate.

A former corporate executive, grade school and secondary education teacher, police officer, adjunct professor, and school administrator responsible for providing safety and security at the largest high school in the U.S., Dr. Spells is a dynamic and deeply relatable speaker who helps organizations and individuals plan for the worst while hoping for the best. Dr. Spells has served on numerous state-wide and national organizations. He has served on multiple boards of directors for non-profit organizations and has been blessed to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA Cook County, Board Member with the Illinois Justice Justice Leadership Council, Program Administrator with the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc., Fair Housing Agent with Open Communities, Inc., and recently joined the Criminal Justice Community Council of Lake County.

Dr. Spells is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Mt. Moriah #28 PHA Masonic Lodge. Dr. Spells is a proud graduate of Northern Illinois University, where he earned his B.A. in Corporate-Organizational Communications. Dr. Spells earned his Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a Doctorate of Law and Policy (LP.D) from Northeastern University (Seattle, WA).

Dr. Spells' research is in the area of Police Reform and Accountability. His dissertation is entitled “Licensing the Police: An Interpretative Phenomenological Exploration of the Effects of Occupational Professional Licensure as a Disciplinary Apparatus to Reduce Police Misconduct.” Dr. Spells had the fortunate opportunity to have world-renowned criminologist Dr. Jack McDevitt serve as the chair of his committee.

Beyond any life experience or accolade, Dr. Spells’ greatest joy is his faith and his loving family. Dr. Spells is married to Jennifer T. Caruba Davis-Spells and is blessed to father two girls, two boys, one granddaughter, and one seven-year-old boxer-pit bull mixed canine. Dr. Spells is a servant-leader who has committed his life to bettering the lives of others. Whether through the vehicles of education, law enforcement, civic engagement, volunteerism, business development, or motivational speaking, Dr. Spells is someone you can depend on to help you or your organization reach its highest potential.