Elizabeth Locklear didn’t have to look far for inspiring female role models as a child, her mother modeled a life of passion and devotion to education.
Not only that, but Elizabeth was from Pembroke, a place with a rich history of strong women. Her mother, Dr. Zoe Locklear, served her community and UNC Pembroke in many capacities over her 32 years of leadership, including as department chair and founding dean of the School of Education, and as interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. A UNCP alumna herself, Dr. Zoe Locklear is the first-ever administrator to earn provost emeritus status after receiving unanimous approval from the Board of Trustees. Her daughter Elizabeth has now added another Dr. Locklear to the family dinner table.
Elizabeth grew up visiting campus, so it was natural for her to attend UNCP, graduating with her bachelor of science degree in mass communication on the public relations track in 2014.
“Our graduates end up very well-rounded in terms of specific employment preparation in media, or in intellectual curiosity about the social systems behind media—and how they themselves can contribute to improving communication in the real world,” notes Mass Communication Department Chair Dr. Jamie Litty.
“Some of our students go directly into working at newspapers, TV stations, nonprofits, or ad agencies; some become teachers in K-12; some earn advanced degrees to go into management or the professoriate; and frankly we have some playing basketball in Europe. It’s all good. Our aim is to produce media-literate graduates who keep a critical eye on the world and carry a spark for lifelong learning.”
With her UNCP degree under her belt, Elizabeth Locklear went on to earn her Master of Arts in Health Communication from East Carolina University and began working for the ECU College of Allied Health Sciences as an Academic Advisor. “I feel that my experiences at UNCP, specifically within the Mass Communication department really helped launch my doctoral journey. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had to participate in undergraduate research with Dr. Judy Curtis and Professor George Harrison, as these experiences sparked a great interest in learning and the exciting world of research. The faculty within the Mass Communication department were instrumental in preparing me for graduate education,” Elizabeth states.
Today, the newest Dr. Locklear enjoys giving back to her community through her work advising undergraduates at East Carolina University. Her students are those in the Department of Health Services and Information Management, and her guidance assists students through their programs. Elizabeth recently completed her PhD in Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development, with a concentration in adult and lifelong education, from North Carolina State University. “My research has largely focused on health professions education. I’m not completely settled on future plans, but I would like to continue to focus on health professions education and curriculum development and assist others in achieving their academic and career goals.”
Her dissertation, “Educating for Uncertainty: A Qualitative Study on Preparing Future-Ready Physicians through Master Adaptive Learning,” reflects her desire to properly equip all students with the skills and advantages she herself had in Pembroke. “I am grateful for the relationships I developed throughout the UNCP community. Growing up I always had a connection to UNCP, often spending time in the School of Education building with my mom, however, when I became a student, I began to establish my own connections and passion for higher education. The relationships and experiences I gained at UNCP and within the mass communication department, really instilled in me the tools and confidence to further my education and pursue a fulfilling career.”