Dr. Deatra L. Neal
Deatra L Neal, PhD, is a scholar and creative entrepreneur whose interdisciplinary research intersects with policy, technology, and the arts. Deatra founded FDPRI’s inaugural online journal, Sankofa Futures, and is leading AI research at the institute. With a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in marketing from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University, Deatra combines academic rigor with cultural insight to help leaders connect with their identity and design futures grounded in purpose. As an IT executive consultant, Deatra led major migration and disaster recovery initiatives while managing a global team of database administrators. She has taught at the University of Cincinnati and the Art Institute, bringing her distinctive blend of scholarship and creativity into the classroom. Beyond academia, she is an award-winning filmmaker whose projects have received over 25 international honors. Deatra has contributed to The Democratic Republic of Congo’s leading publication, Le Potentiel, and worked alongside Nickelodeon writing executives and some of the most talented independent filmmakers in the industry. Her short film, What About Us?, was featured on the ASPIRE cable network and received recognition from the New York City Council for important community stories. Deatra co-produced the 2011 Sundance award-winning film Kinyarwanda and served as lead writer on several hour-long dramatic series for EbonyLifeTV, Africa’s first Global Entertainment & Lifestyle network in Nigeria.
Through her work at the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute at UNCF, Deatra seeks to showcase the diaspora’s rich history and culture through research, creative storytelling, and innovative technology.