Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate

Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Dr. Thomas-Tate personifies living the public affairs mission both in and out of the classroom.  A strong leader and notable expert in diversity and multiculturalism, Shurita currently volunteers in several capacities with the Springfield Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  As well as Treasurer, she serves on the Education Standing Committee which is currently partnering with several local organizations to implement the national ‘NAACP reads’ project to combat the grade-level reading gap for children of color who are socio-economically challenged.

As the Advisor for the local NAACP Youth Chapter, Shurita is Chair for the local ACT-SO program that will be sending two students from Willard High School to the National Competition in Philadelphia this summer.  ACT-SO is the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics – a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.  The competition includes 26 categories in the sciences, humanities, business and performing and visual arts.

Dr. Thomas-Tate is actively engaged in her church where she gives her time and efforts toward outreach projects and teaching classes focused on identifying member’s gifts and passions and connecting them with opportunities to serve in the community.  Recently, Shurita’s heart for children led her to fulfill the call of becoming a foster parent and is now providing a full-time home to her first child in need.

Her passion for bettering the lives of the citizens in our communities incorporates the three pillars of cultural competence, community engagement and ethical leadership at all levels.  We are honored to recognize Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate as May’s Faculty Public Affairs Spotlight!