Linda Powell Pruitt

Educator, organizational consultant and psychotherapist Linda Powell Pruitt is the fourth president of Leadership Metro Richmond, the 28-year old community leadership development organization of some 1,400 members.

Originally founded as a leadership development program, LMR today is a family of programs and services whose goal is strengthening Richmond and building connections that make a difference. It seeks to advance the region by educating, energizing and connecting a diverse group of local leaders to serve the community. 

Dr. Powell Pruitt began her career in the nonprofit sector, first at the Ecumenical Women’s Centers in Chicago and then at the Inter-Religious Foundation for Community Organizing/National Council of Churches and the North Star Fund, both in New York. She then served as a training manager for American Express International, management planning officer for Marine Midland Bank and consultant for both Corporate Education Resources and Triad Solutions. She also served as president of Resources for Change, a Philadelphia-based organizational consulting firm for nonprofit organizations.

Powell Pruitt has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education, NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, City University of New York, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Teachers College at Columbia University, and the Department of Psychology at George Washington University.

She has co-edited two books, including Off-White: Readings on Power, Privilege and Resistance, and authored numerous journal articles, monographs and book chapters and is the founder of Powell Pruitt Associates, which provides consulting services to organizations and individuals, with special emphasis on schools, churches and communities seeking transformational change.

Powell Pruitt earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from George Washington University.  She is a Chicago native who has been living in Richmond since 2004. She is married to the Rev. Canon Dr. Alonzo Pruitt.