Narrative Bio

Nadrea R. Njoku is a thought leader and scholar deeply committed to producing critical and thought-provoking research, developing ideas and programming that is relevant to our time, advocating for historically marginalized populations, and strategizing for the improvement of organizations and institutions that assist us in moving culture and access to opportunities for that population forward. Throughout her 15 years in the higher education and non-profit sector, she has come to believe that all sectors have the tools to answer their most challenging problems; they have to remove institutional gatekeeping and look within for the possibility models toward success. She is committed to creating initiatives and thinking methodically about how centers for cultural exchange–museums, educational organizations, and foundations–can position their institutions to become benefactors for and support Black and Brown communities. 

Born and raised in New Orleans, she observed firsthand the healing power the arts and education could play in supporting Black families through the impact of gun violence and impoverished communities. Her mother, Regina immersed Nadrea in the culture of New Orleans, from festivals to second lines and community days at the New Orleans Museum of Art. While a childhood in the arts led to a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Xavier University of Louisiana, her mother’s experiences as an adult learner at a local historically Black college pushed Nadrea to pursue a Ph.D. in student affairs and higher education. In contrast, art continues to be her first love and the lens she uses to address our world's challenges.

For the last 4 years Nadrea has worked at UNCF in its Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. Currently serving as the Director of the Patterson, Nadrea leads a staff of 10 researchers and 5 freelance editors, writers and methodologists. Her intention has been to elevate the value proposition of the HBCU community through thoughtful research, the professional development of researchers, and community building. At Patterson, Dr. Njoku has both raised the profile and viability of the institute while supporting UNCF’s recent record-breaking fundraising through research and strategic data oversight, doubling the size of the team, supporting emerging scholars through a fellows program, and raised more than 3.5 million dollars to support the capacity and research for Patterson.

In May 2016, Nadrea, along with 7 other Black women doctoral students, made history becoming the largest number of Black women to graduate from Indiana University's School of Education with their PhDs in the same graduating class.  News of the eight women went viral and the group was coined,  “The Great 8.” Most recently these 8 phenomenal women were named to Ebony Magazine's 2016 Power 100 list. 

Outside of Patterson, she continues to build an artfully engaging set of projects, including #BlackGirlOnCampus and the NOLA Black Girlhood Project. Each centers the narratives of Black women in cultural and educative spaces through arts-based research. As co-founder of the 1925 Drexel Society, she has used social media and influence to increase young alumni engagement with XULA through demographically focused programming.  

Although New Orleans will always be home, Nadrea resides in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. She dreams of providing them the same culturally immersive experiences her mother provided. She is a world traveler and finds herself at the center of museums, whether traveling for work or pleasure.