Genna Da’Shae Locklear is a critical voice and a powerful force for change and does it all with grace, empathy, and resilience. She received the Inclusive Excellence Award at a lunch honoring the 2023 graduates.
Dr. Locklear served on Duke DPT’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She has advocated for positive change in the curriculum, the development of training for faculty, staff, and students, and the program’s culture. She served on the APTA NC Student Special Interest Group, DEI Project Committee where she assisted in creating and organizing events and projects that aim to bridge the diversity gaps within the field of physical therapy and increase the representation of minority students in the field. She was featured in an American Physical Therapy Association magazine article titled, "Physical Therapy for Native American Populations,” which reached a national audience.
She has been a keynote speaker for the Native American Student Organization at UNC Pembroke during the #NoMore Candlelight Vigil for Missing, Murdered, and Abused Indigenous Women. She spoke at Cultural Day as part of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She has also mentored Native American youth about pursuing higher education through numerous avenues.
Dr. Locklear has served on a panel for the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization where she discussed her journey to become a physical therapist. She addressed current barriers in our healthcare system for Native Americans. She has also mentored undergraduate students about the process of applying to PT school and the financial aid opportunities offered in North Carolina.