In The Margins EP149: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey with Dr. George A. Pruitt
In this episode, we welcome Dr. George A. Pruitt, Thomas Edison State University president emeritus, for a thought-provoking discussion highlighting the past, present, and future of the civil rights movement, the importance of celebrating diverse histories, and the ongoing struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education and beyond. Pruitt also offers a glimpse into his new book: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning.
Throughout the conversation with Diverse host Ralph Newell, Pruitt shares his personal experiences as a young activist in the 1960s and 70s, recounting his encounters with iconic figures like Malcolm X and Fred Hampton. He also reflects on the legacy of John Lewis and the critical role of service-oriented leadership in driving meaningful change.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of Pruitt's distinguished career in higher education, including his groundbreaking work at Thomas Edison State University, where he pioneered innovative approaches to adult and distance learning.
Tune in and learn more about exploring the current landscape of higher education leadership and the importance of mentoring the next generation.
This is part one of our 2025 Black History Month series. Tune in February 27 as we host Dr. Marlee S. Bunch. Her research focuses on the oral histories of Black female educators in Mississippi who taught between 1954-1970.
KEY POINTS:
- Pruitt’s take on Black History Month and other heritage-related national holidays
- The legacy of John Lewis and the importance of his service
- Fred Hampton and his impact on civil rights
- Pruitt’s career background and inspiration to pursue higher ed
- Experiences working at Illinois State University, influential mentors, and the decision to pursue the presidency in higher ed
- Introduction to new book: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning
- Psychological challenges associated with activism and the importance of self-reliance, courage, and owning one's life and decisions.
- The impact of mentors and the need for a service-oriented approach to higher ed leadership.
- The importance of engagement, resilience, and the fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Pruitt’s advice: Keep up the fight, stay engaged and don’t give up.
QUOTES:
"I never aspired to the presidency out of any sense of personal ambition. That was not why I was interested. I had gotten invested in higher education — I wanted to reform it. I wanted to change it." - Dr. George A. Pruitt
“I see a contemporary world where we are distracted by personal ambition, personal advancement, personal achievement, [and] personal success. Those are all wonderful things, but those things are important when they're in the context of service to others and our community.” - Dr. George A. Pruitt
"It's nice to have a national holiday that pays attention to the unique contributions of various parts of our country, history, and democracy, but, we have the opportunity to decide for ourselves what and when we're going to celebrate our history and our contribution to American life and history.” – Dr. George A. Pruitt
RESOURCES:
From Protest to President - Rutgers University Press
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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.
In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).