Originally from California, Dr. Terri Jett earned her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from Auburn University. She came to Butler in 1999 as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies and quickly made a name for herself over the years. Besides being a professor, Dr. Jett has been a Department Chair (2007-2014), the Faculty Director of The Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement, a member of the Steering Committee of the Race, Gender, Sexuality Studies Program (RGSS), a Faculty Senator, and a Faculty Fellow at the Desmond Tutu Peace Lab Think Tank. Additionally, she was the Special Assistant to the Provost for Diversity and Inclusivity, co-chaired the Founder’s Day Committee, served on the board of Indiana Humanities, and was on the Indianapolis Land Improvement Bond Bank Board. Dr. Jett also moderated a series called Simple Civics on the local PBS Station WFYI.

Dr. Jett also developed almost two dozen courses for Butler, including core curriculum, departmental, and honors classes. Personal research focused on agriculture and food justice. Through these classes and her other work, Dr. Jett helped lay the groundwork for many of the University-wide DEI initiatives.

Dr. Jett was the first the first Black female at Butler to earn tenure and became the first Black female to be promoted to full professor in 2020. She was a 2021-22 Distinguished Faculty Award recipient for her contributions to Butler University. After almost 25 years at Butler, Dr. Jett moved back to California and is currently the Associate Vice President/Senior Diversity Officer at Saint Mary’s College of California.