About Me
About Me
“Girl power in my mind is to let girls be exactly what they are. Let them be angry. Let them be resentful. And rebellious. Let them be hard and soft and loving and sad and silly. Let them be wrong. Let them be right. Let them be everything. because, they are everything.” Amy Sherman-Palladino
I am a Sierra Leonean-American, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, raised in Normal, Illinois. I am the daughter of Dr. Mildred Pratt, (PhD in Social Work, 1969, University of Pittsburgh and full professor in 1979 at Illinois State University), and Dr. Theodore Pratt (PhD in Nuclear Physics, 1968, Carnegie Mellon).
I am the granddaughter of Eula and RP Sirls, sharecroppers in Texas and Alabama in the 1930s, and the great-granddaughter of Rosa (formerly enslaved) and George Thrikill; and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Jean Pratt and Daniel Pratt of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
I am the sister of Awadagin Pratt, one of the “one of the great and distinctive American pianists and conductors of our time.”
I am the mother of Emmanuel Pratt-Clarke (@emmanuelaopc), an amazing talented African-Diaspora artist and painter based in the United States and the Bahamas whose art is highlighted on this website, and Raebekkah Pratt-Clarke, a powerful, determined Blackwildgirl “dominating the field” in sports management.
I am a former professional tennis player, having played the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 1984, and a classically trained pianist and violinist. I bought a baby grand piano a few years ago, and named her Simone, in honor of Nina Simone, and christened her with a rendition of Nina Simone’s, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free.”
I share my gifts at Virginia Tech as the Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity and Professor of Education. A loyal Hokie for the past 7 years, in 2022, I had the privilege of writing a poem for Virginia Tech’s Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary, called, “Virginia Tech: Creation. Celebration. Commission.” It was inspired by and dedicated to Nikki Giovanni.
I have five degrees: a PhD in Sociology and law degree; two master’s degree in literary studies and sociology; and a bachelor’s degree in English, with minors in African American studies and philosophy. I have been working in social justice and higher education for over 25 years, including writing and co-editing five books.
I have been blessed and honored to be the founder for the Faculty Women of Color in the Academy National Conference, approaching its 11th year and now hosted at Virginia Tech to specifically support, empower, and connect women of color with each to advance their success.
I am also the founder of the Black College Institute, a summer leadership program for high-achieving, intellectually curious high school students interested in the African-American experience, hosted at Virginia Tech, now in its 7th year.
As an academic-advocate and scholar-activist, I’m deeply committed to creating environments for everyone, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, to actualize their potential, especially in higher education.
HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS
2023-2024 American Council
2023-2024 American Council on Education Fellowship, a competitive, selective, professional development award.
2023 Winds of Change Award
2023 Winds of Change Award from the Forum on Workplace Inclusion recognizes an individual who has demonstrated sustained support for advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace; has raised awareness of workplace diversity and inclusion issues; and has been a catalyst for change regarding workplace diversity and inclusion and/or has impacted change within an industry, organization or local community.
2023 Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia
2023 Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia. This group of esteemed individuals are leading organizations across fields including healthcare, financial services, engineering, education, and more. This year’s awardees encourage and promote lasting changes around them, impacting the lives of other women and empowering them to lead in their own path.
2021 National Association
2021 National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education Inclusive Excellence Individual Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to research, administration, practice, advocacy and/or policy, and whose work informs and advances the understanding of diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education
2018 American Education Studies
2018 American Education Studies Association Critics’ Choice Outstanding Scholarship Award Winner for “A Black Woman’s Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in America”
2012 Larine Y. Cowan
2012 Larine Y. Cowan “Make a Difference Award” for Visionary Leadership in Diversity (a campus-wide award recognizing significant contributions to diversity at Illinois; received inaugural award for visionary leadership)
2011 Outstanding Research Contribution
2011 “Outstanding Research Contribution in African American Studies Award” for Critical Race, Feminism, and Education: A Social Justice Model
2010 Professor William H. Creswell, Jr.
2010 Professor William H. Creswell, Jr., Humanitarian and Community Service Award (a campus-wide award recognizing contributions to Illinois that impact the campus community)
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