Honoring Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald – A Life of Justice, Advocacy, and Empowerment

A proud alumna of The Piney Woods School, Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald has dedicated her life to advancing justice, equality, and opportunity. Her extraordinary career stands as a testament to the enduring values instilled at Piney Woods — the education of the head, heart, and hands.

As Director of the Children's Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office, Ms. Fitzgerald has led with conviction and compassion, focusing on early childhood education, children’s access to healthcare, and dismantling the cradle-to-prison pipeline that continues to affect communities of color. Her leadership has transformed policies, strengthened systems of care, and inspired countless advocates across the nation.

In her role as Regional Administrator for the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice (SRBWI), she oversees life-changing programs across 77 counties in the Black Belts of Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Mississippi Delta — uniting more than 2,500 Black women and young women in collective empowerment and community transformation.

Her innovative vision also led to the Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) Initiative), which has improved early learning and family engagement across multiple Mississippi school districts, ensuring children are prepared for lifelong success.

Ms. Fitzgerald’s distinguished public service career began well before her tenure at the Children’s Defense Fund. In 1993, she was appointed by President Bill Clinton as White House Liaison and Executive Assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, later serving as the Department’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, she was instrumental in coordinating the federal government’s long-term recovery following the Great Flood of 1993 and advancing tribal government relations nationwide.

Her service continues today through leadership roles on the boards of the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice and the NEA Foundation, as well as advisory roles with the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University, the Southern Black Farmer Community Led Fund, and Excel by 5. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum.

A graduate of Tougaloo College, Ms. Fitzgerald earned her Master of Arts in Rural Development from Antioch University (Midwest), with additional studies at the University of California at Davis, and holds honorary membership in Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, awarded by Mississippi State University.

Her insight and advocacy have been featured in national outlets including the New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, NPR, and NBC News, and she contributed to The Covenant with Black America, introduced by Tavis Smiley.

As The Piney Woods School celebrates Founder’s Weekend 2025, we are deeply honored to recognize Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald — an alumna whose life’s work exemplifies our core values of Love, Integrity, Faith, Excellence, and Empowerment. Through her leadership and legacy, she continues to open doors for generations to come, embodying the transformative spirit of Piney Woods.

💚 Her journey reminds us that when education is grounded in purpose, it can inspire a lifetime of service and a legacy of change. Your gift helps The Piney Woods School empower the next generation of changemakers who will follow in her footsteps.

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