Dr. Kenyatta Lovett is the Managing Director for Higher Education within CFT’s Educate Texas initiative, leading the higher education team, which supports a critical component of the education continuum that improves economic mobility for all Texans.

Kenyatta serves as a thought driver on workforce development, helping to lead Educate Texas forward in improving post-secondary education outcomes across Texas. 
 
Kenyatta has a deep background in higher education reform and workforce and economic development. He has a passion for students and spent more than 16 years in higher education leadership roles in the state of Tennessee, working at the campus, system office, state program, and policy level. His efforts have centered on delivering equitable outcomes in higher education, especially for African-American, Latino, and economically disadvantaged students. 

As the assistant vice chancellor of community colleges, he helped to design and build Tennessee's current framework for a comprehensive technical and community college system. Kenyatta was instrumental in the successful launch of the Tennessee Promise program, Tennessee Reconnect program, and an early math remediation high school program. Kenyatta successfully led the launch of the nation's first statewide higher education advocacy organization and think tank focused on college completion and degree attainment. Additionally, Kenyatta served as the assistant commissioner for workforce services at the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He also worked at the central office and campus level within the state's higher education system, Tennessee Board of Regents. 

Kenyatta brings to Educate Texas a powerful statewide workforce track record; from launching Tennessee's first apprenticeship office and developing grant opportunities for work-based learning in Tennessee high schools to creating “braided funding” to support Tennessee community college students facing housing, food, and transportation challenges.
  
Kenyatta earned his bachelor of fine arts from Howard University and his M.B.A. in supply chain management and PhD in public policy and administration from Tennessee State University.

Joined CFT

2021

Favorite Aspect of CFT

"I am proud to be a part of a team of big hearts and great minds dedicated to making Texas a great place to live, one community at a time."

Favorite Quote

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

— Lao Tzu