ABOUT ME

Hi there! I am Terza Lima-Neves, also known as “Dr. T,” a higher education leader, author, and speaker with over 20 years of experience. My expertise spans education, cultural competencies, community empowerment and workplace culture. Long before ‘DEI’ became a buzzword – and later, a misunderstood term – I was doing real work of advancing equity, inclusion and belonging. I help individuals and groups achieve their goals and build safe, inclusive communities grounded in compassion, cultural awareness and respect for diverse perspectives. I work with individuals and groups to reach their goals and build successful and safe communities.

I was born and raised in Cabo Verde, a West African island nation, and immigrated to the United States as a teenager with my parents and siblings. As a Black African young girl, adapting to a new country, education system, and culture has shaped my perspective on the world. This experience fuels my commitment to supporting communities, especially Black and brown women and girls.

I hold a Leadership Foundation certificate from Harvard Business School for Executive Leadership, as well as degrees from Providence College and Clark Atlanta University. Additionally, I am a past Fellow of the International Women's Forum (IWF), a prestigious global program for distinguished women leaders from over 25 countriesI. As a scholar and author, I am the editor of Cabo Verdeans in the United States: 21st Century Critical Perspectives and the principal editor of Cabo Verdean Women Writing Remembrance, Resilience, and Revolution: Kriolas Poderozas, both published by Lexington Press in 2021 and 2024, respectively.

I have had the privilege of delivering keynote lectures, presentations, and workshops at institutions and organizations such as TEDx, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - World View and the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black History and Culture, Howard University, Providence College, Brown University, the National Humanities Center, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the Lincoln School, Bristol Community College (New Bedford Campus), Virginia State University, Bridgewater State University, Wingate University, Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI), CNN Africa and Vanguard Corporation.

My work has been featured on Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, Women in Higher Education and various other publications. As a passionate advocate for community empowerment, I co-founded Poderoza: International Conference on Cabo Verdean Women in 2016, which serves as a platform for education, advocacy, and community building.