Partners Dr. Tameka has served

Organizations book Dr. Tameka Ellington because she brings high energy and real-life examples of struggle to triumph and poverty mindset to growth mindset. Despite the violence and crime surrounding her, Dr. Tameka always strived for excellence. She was the first person in her family to obtain a college degree and attributes education, TRIO Programs, and the dedicated mentors in her life as the resources that helped her escape poverty.

Dr. Tameka is CEO and Founder of Dr. Tameka Ellington Enterprises, a personal and professional development company where she helps her clients become empowered through leadership training and confident coaching. She is a speaker, internationally acclaimed and awarded fashion scholar, and confidence coach. She’s the author of five books, including the award-winning book, TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair written for its namesake exhibition co-curated by Dr. Tameka, featuring artifacts and contemporary artworks musing on Black hair and Black culture. Her latest book, Black Hair in a White World was released summer 2023 with Kent State University (KSU) Press. Dr. Tameka is also the host of The Black Beauty Activist Podcast where she has critical conversations with her guests to disrupt Westernize beauty standards and raise the consciousness and confidence of Black women.

Dr. Tameka started her career as a Fashion Designer working for large corporations such as Abercrombie & Fitch. After several years of working in the fashion industry, she had a call in to teach in 2005. In 2012 she became the first African American professor at the KSU Fashion School and served as a fashion design professor/scholar for 15 years. The last two years of her academic career Dr. Tameka served as Assistant Dean for the College of the Arts and Director for Diversity Initiatives for a team of over 3,000 people (faculty, staff, and students).

She has received many awards and recognition’s for her work including her most recent the 2024 National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Vision Award in Education, 2024 Ohio Collective award for Innovation in Education, the 2022 Educational Opportunity Association Achiever Award, the 2021 KSU Trail Blazer Award for being an advocate for underrepresented and underserved students, faculty and staff as well as the first to make beneficial changes to KSU, the 2019 First Generation Advocate Award for her work with first generation students, and the 2018 Ohio Board Of Trustees Faculty Research Award.

Dr. Tameka is dedicated to empowering her clients to achieve new levels of self-confidence and helping them break down barriers in their personal and professional lives. “On the other side of fear is your beautiful confidence.”