Latishia “Tish” Futrell is a native Californian who transplanted with her family to Durham in the summer of 2011. Tish holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, with a minor in business administration, from California State University East Bay in Hayward, California. Her study focus was public relations and journalism.
Futrell began the Duke Graduate Liberal Studies program in 2018 as a part-time professional student. In the early stages of the program, she studied global migrations and neoliberalism. Her research interests evolved to focus on women in activism and the intersectionality of their contributions to our human rights.
Futrell worked in higher education administration for over eight years at Clark Atlanta University and is entering her ninth year at Duke University in The Graduate School (Graduate Student Affairs unit). She is a senior program coordinator and assistant director of the Duke University Center for Exemplary Mentoring.
Before coming to Duke, Futrell worked in marketing and business development. She has been a Durham Public Schools PTA member serving in leadership since 2011 and actively participates in her children’s education and extracurricular activities. She enjoys volunteer work, often splitting her time and talents between parenting, work, and board service for local non-profit organizations. She is the current fundraising and development chair for the EPiC NC Board of Directors, which she joined in 2022.
Futrell enjoys traveling, live music, experimenting with new recipes, event planning, and spending time with her husband, two exceptional children, her mother, and their family dog. She and her family live in Durham, NC. Futrell has a genuine heart for education, serving her community, and making worthy connections with her people. She is also a proud cancer survivor who believes in sharing her experience and knowledge to inspire others.
