Dr. Amanda Lockett

Amanda Washington Lockett, PhD is a dedicated scholar-practitioner with over a decade of experience in higher education and strategy development. Drawing inspiration from her esteemed lineage as the great-great granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, she uses her passion and voice as a tool to advocate for equity and innovative solutions to fortify the infrastructure of American education. Dr. Washington Lockett’s research and practice focus on innovations in higher education, transformative leadership and institutional sustainability.

Dr. Washington Lockett has served as a strategic advisor to the presidents of two Minority Serving Institutions and most recently served as a Strategist for the Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In this role, she developed strategic priorities and initiatives that improved the sustainability and institutional outcomes of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including the publication of a 2024 report in partnership with Prudential Financial and PGIM, researching the endowment performance, institutional capacity, and perspectives of endowment professionals from nearly one-third of all private HBCUs.

Beyond her experience in higher education, Dr. Washington Lockett brings valuable experience from the executive search industry. She honed her skills at True Search, where she was part of the People, Talent, and Legal team. In this role, she played a key part in connecting exceptional talent with leading organizations. Her placements included board members, C-suite executives, vice presidents, directors, and other strategic hires for both private and public companies.

Dr. Washington Lockett earned a PhD in Higher Education at The University of Pennsylvania, where her research focused on Presidential Retention and Organizational Leadership. Additionally, she has earned a Master’s degree in Education Policy and Social Analysis from Columbia University Teachers College, a Master’s degree in Teaching from American University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College. She has also received credentials in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Organizational Culture. She has contributed to multiple academic book chapters, peer-reviewed journals, co-authored reports for the United States Department of Education, and frequently provides social commentary on topics related to K-20 education and leadership. Dr. Washington Lockett serves as an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Indianapolis Graduate School of Education and a lecturer at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Dr. Washington Lockett has reached across the K-20 educational continuum—teaching students in both primary and post-secondary education classrooms. She has previously worked within the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions, the New York State Department of Education, the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Throughout her professional life, Dr. Washington Lockett has volunteered and served on national and civic boards. Currently, she serves as the President of the Booker T. Washington Family Association. A native of Richmond, Virginia, she resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband and their three children.