Dr. Lisa Pertillar-Brevard (1968 - ) is an African-American scholar, artist, and educator with an extensive background in African-American studies, sacred music, literature, and Women’s studies. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in 1991 and her Ph.D. in African-American Studies, with an emphasis on Women’s Studies, from Emory University’s Institute of the Liberal Arts in 1995.

Dr. Brevard has held numerous academic and leadership roles throughout her career. Since the summer of 1995, she has served as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate in the Afro-American Studies Program at the University of Maryland at College Park. She has also worked as Associate Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Studies at Walden University, where she managed Creative Arts and Humanities courses and faculty. Currently, she is the Lead Fellow and Director of the Walden University Center for Social Change.

An internationally recognized scholar and creative artist, Dr. Brevard has taught Creative Writing, Philosophy, World History, and Women’s Literature and Social Change. She has also contributed extensively to publications on African-American music traditions and online education, including entries such as “Humanities Education” and “Online Poster Sessions” for The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education (2016). Her most recent solo book, Whoopi Goldberg on Stage and Screen (2013), explores Goldberg’s philosophies and work as an actor-activist.

Dr. Brevard’s career spans over two decades of teaching and progressive leadership roles in both online and on-ground academic settings. She has held positions such as Graduate Teaching Fellow and visiting instructor at Emory University, visiting faculty at Spelman College, and Course Chair for English and Humanities at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She has also served as Director of Graduate Studies (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh), Dean of Humanities, and university-wide Program Director (Dillard University).

Her dedication to education extends beyond academia. Dr. Brevard has worked with national and local programs to help high school students access academic and cultural resources and has advised graduate students on diverse thesis and dissertation topics. Her current research explores connections between African-American and Afro-West Indian philosophies, identities, and arts.

Dr. Brevard’s contributions have been recognized in publications such as Who’s Who Among American Women (1993, 1995). Her most recent published work, a book chapter titled "The Gospel according to Madame Emma Azalia Smith Hackley," appears in Activism in the Name of God: Religion and Black Feminist Public Intellectuals from the Nineteenth Century to the Present (University Press of Mississippi, 2023).

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Brevard completed five Harvard Business School professional certificates in 2019, including Leading People, Process Improvement, Change Management, Delegating, and Leveraging Your Networks. She is an active member of the Walden University Assessment Working Group, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to academic excellence and innovation.