Zillah Fluker, Ph.D.

Director of Executive Leadership

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building

Dr. Zillah Fluker, an HBCU Ambassador and leadership development thought leader, is a highly accomplished individual in higher education with a diverse background that sets her apart. She currently serves as the Director of Executive Leadership at the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building. With a career spanning the corporate and academic worlds, she brings a unique blend of skills and experience having served as a Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Alabama State University, Miles College, and Central State University. At the higher education institutions she has served, Fluker leveraged her corporate background to secure significant gifts, and built a culture of philanthropy and impactful brand positioning and community engagement. At the UNCF Institute, she leads the vertical that supports over 40 HBCU presidents in helping the institution to realize their vision and also serves as the communications lead for the Institute. Fluker’s global perspective, shaped by her Zimbabwean roots, growing up in London, England and Birmingham, AL, and working in New York, Connecticut, Georgia and Alabama, helps her bring diverse perspectives together to drive progress through innovative and collaborative leadership.

Her dedication to improving access and equity in higher education is evident in her work to increase philanthropic support, scholarships, and pathways for underrepresented groups. Fluker is a visionary leader committed to progress, equity, and innovation in higher education.
Dr. Fluker holds a Ph.D. in higher education, and a bachelor’s in history earned at Alabama State University. She is also a Purdue University graduate, where she earned an MBA and Master of Arts in History.

Dr. Fluker is a proud mother of Coleman (12) and Anderson (11), and is married to her college sweetheart, Kwame. She is committed to spreading the leadership development message through the nonprofit, Why Not Win Institute that she co-founded and serves as the Executive Director, and she is also an award-winning host and has recently launched the new UNCF HBCU Voices: Executive Leaders Unfiltered podcast.