Professional Bio

Nadrea R. Njoku is an artist, scholar, and organizational strategist committed to advancing historically marginalized populations through research, creative practice, and institutional transformation. Born and raised in New Orleans, her mother Regina immersed her in the city's rich cultural landscape, leading to a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Xavier University of Louisiana and later a Ph.D. in student affairs and higher education from Indiana University.

As a practicing artist, Nadrea employs critical fabulation methodology to explore Creole New Orleans heritage and Black Southern family narratives existing in archival margins. Her mixed media installations, speculative portraiture, and textile works incorporate traditional techniques with contemporary materials, creating layered visual narratives that honor both documented history and necessary imagination. Her ongoing projects, including the NOLA Black Girlhood Project, use arts-based research to center Black women's experiences in cultural and educational spaces.

From 2019 to 2024, Nadrea served as Assistant Vice President of UNCF's Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, leading a team of 15 researchers and raising over $3.5 million while doubling the institute's capacity. This experience provided crucial insights into institutional leadership and strategic development that now inform her learning and management consulting practice.

Currently, Nadrea helps organizations remove institutional gatekeeping and discover internal possibility models for success. Her approach combines rigorous research with creative problem-solving, while her active studio practice serves as a research laboratory for developing inclusive storytelling methodologies. She resides in Atlanta with her husband and two sons, maintaining her connection to New Orleans through frequent visits and cultural immersion.