About Us

The Hypatian Institute, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit business dedicated to the investigation, exploration and teaching of leadership skills for the 21st Century communities. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the Institute primarily serves the DC Metropolitan Area. There are many paths to leadership and not an inconsiderable variety of types of leaders. And, if this shrinking world of expanding ideas has shown us anything this past decade, it’s that in the 21st Century everyone is a leader.

With that thought first and foremost, the Hypatian Institute, Inc. was conceived. Here we cultivate the seeds of knowledge to nurture the strength and potential of communities. It is our mission to support people on the journey to fulfilling their potential and discovering their paths to leadership and service.

Our Approach

Leadership training and development programs have become the new required component for career growth. What makes the Hypatian Institute unique is the combination of for profit and nonprofit models, complemented by components usually seen separately in think tanks, nonprofits, leadership programs and consulting firms. The Institute is built on two guiding hypotheses:

Small organizations and individuals will invest in high quality, affordable leadership development.
People prefer programs that also support the community.

Hypatia of Alexandria, Egypt

Hypatia was a mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and educator in ancient Alexandria Egypt. She was one of the last great thinkers of her era in what had become a city torn apart by competing philosophies and religious beliefs. The educator was know for teaching all who sought knowledge. Hypatia would walk the streets of Alexandria discussing the great philosophers with anyone who inquired, and she wrote treatises about texts and concepts that made them more accessible to students. In short, Hypatia opened the doors of knowledge and to others, and the Hypatian Institute seeks to do the same in this day and age.

Our TEAM

Gaea L. Honeycutt, Founder and CEO, is responsible for the management and direction of the Hypatian Institute. The owner of a consulting firm, she draws on diverse expertise in business development, research, communications and professional development, she helps organizations transform goals into measurable, achievable action through tailored strategies. Ms. Honeycutt has worked in both the private and public sectors, serving entrepreneurs, research and development companies, small businesses, government agencies and nonprofits.

As a Co-founder and Past Chairman of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, she has been a vital connector for the business community. With her intuitive and results-oriented leadership, she built a multifaceted vision for the Chamber based on experiences in such areas as public policy, nonprofit management, social research and development. Since stepping down as Chairman, Ms. Honeycutt has provided the same leadership, business development and strategy services to her clients.

Her first start-up was the PeaceAmerica Foundation, a community wealth enterprise focused on supporting community-based organizations working at the intersection of violence prevention and peace promotion. In addition, she has served as communications director for a government agency, senior research associate for a national healthcare project, an association executive, and a fund development officer for a New England university.

A freelance writer and editor, she writes feature articles and reports, and edits books. She has written several articles on business, leadership, technology and social policy topics, including columns for Urban Views Weekly and Fop Magazine, where she also serves as an editor. Ms. Honeycutt has delivered presentations for a number of organizations on such topics as leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, marketing and social media.

She serves on the DC Advisory Board of Peace First and the LearnServe International Growth Council; and is a member of the Black Women’s Roundtable, Consulting Women and Washington Network Group. Ms. Honeycutt earned her MPP from the University of Chicago, where she was a McCormick Tribune Fellow and Dean’s Fellow; a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in American Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Boston; and a BA from Bentley University. She is also a member of the Inaugural Class of the Masters Series for Distinguished Leaders at the Skinner Leadership Institute, where she serves on the Alumni Leadership Council; and the Leadership Fairfax Class of 2012, where she served on the Program Committee.

Board of Directors

Marcia J. Crockett

Gaea L. Honeycutt

Yao Tyus

Youth Programs Advisory Council

Gaea L. Honeycutt

Philip Lartigue

Calvin Skinner

Derek Steele

Yao Tyus