Geri Chesner began her formal teaching career in the Milwaukee Public School district as an elementary teacher. For 12 years she was an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Alverno College in Milwaukee in the teacher preparation and graduate programs in literacy, language arts and reading. Since 2007, Geri has been a faculty member at National Louis University working in the Teacher Leadership M.Ed. and Educational Leadership M.Ed. and doctoral programs. She also held the position of Assessment Director for the National College of Education.

Geri received her PhD in Urban Education from UW-Milwaukee with an emphasis on curriculum, instruction, and literacy. Her research centers on expanding teacher leadership, coaching and mentoring and visual literacy development.