The College will honor the legacy of Flemmie Pansy Kittrell’s distinguished career and scholarship by inviting in a well-respected leader, visionary artist, scholar, or innovator to share their expertise and how their work impacts the human experience and well-being.

The Flemmie Kittrell Visiting Scholar will visit campus for a few days one semester to interact with members of the Human Ecology community through a workshop, classroom visits and a public lecture. The public lecture will serve as a springboard to a collaborative workshop for faculty and students to foster meaningful interactions within our academic community. Visiting Scholars will be awarded the Turner Kittrell Medal of Honor from the Graduate School, which recognizes individuals who have made significant national or international contributions to the advancement of diversity, inclusion and equity in the academy, industry or public sector. 

Submit your nomination below.

About Flemmie Kittrell

The College of Human Ecology is honored to have awarded Flemmie Pansy Kittrell her Ph.D. in nutrition for her dissertation, “A study on negro infant feeding practices in a selected community of North Carolina,” in 1936. This made Kittrell the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in nutrition in the country as well as the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in any field at Cornell University. Kittrell was a principled world citizen who dedicated her life to advancing scholarship central to social and educational justice.

Call for nominations

A selection committee will oversee the selection process and advance the strongest nominations to the dean for selection and approval.

Selection Committee Members

Ruth Browne (past Flemmie Kittrell Visiting Scholar)
Orlando-Marquez Kittrell (Family)
Eve De Rosa (Psychology)
Kerri Lee Alexander (Director of Social Impact and Justice)
Senior Director Kristine Mahoney (Strategic Initiatives and Academic Integration) 
Angela Odoms-Young (Nutritional Sciences) 
Mardelle Shepley (Human Centered Design)

Submit a nomination

The Kittrell Biennial Visiting Scholar will serve as a centerpiece in our College’s efforts to focus students, faculty, and our larger community on the importance of science and technology to human flourishing. We invite the CHE community to nominate outstanding candidates who embody the spirit of inspiration Kittrell cultivated throughout her life. The Kittrell Visiting Scholar should be a notable expert in their field tackling a present-day challenge to the human experience.