As a specialist in human development intervention, Earl has a unique grasp of the issues confronting youth and young couples. He draws upon the cultural and historical niche that ones life evolves out of, to demonstrate how systemic and contextual experiences shape our lives. His professional interests center on providing students a framework to center their life goals. His activities include being a consulting marital therapist, teaching African American Studies, researching relationship development, higher education administration, and leadership practices.
Along with his love of history and life, Earl believes that you should bring a passion to the tasks you want to accomplish. Earl F. Merritt is the Coordinator for Multicultural Equity Programs in the College of the Liberal Arts at The Pennsylvania State University. His responsibilities entail the development and implementation of strategies designed to increase the recruitment and retention of traditionally underrepresented students of color in higher education. He completed his undergraduate studies at Kentucky State College in History and Political Science (B.A.); graduate degrees in Guidance and Counseling (M.A.Ed.) from Murray State University and Child Development and Family Living (M.A.) from Western Kentucky University plus advanced graduate study in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State.
At the community level he has served in leadership roles in Phi Delta Kappa (President 1990-1992) a professional education organization and the Forum on Black Affairs an organization that promotes the interests of African Americans in the Penn State community plus a Life Member of the Grand Chapter and Northeastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated plus Chapter Polemarch of Harrisburg Alumni Chapter (2004-07).
He has been a speaker at Black History Month events, PA Department of Transportation, PA State Corrections Institution and First World Graduation, Bloomsburg University.
He is a Distinguished Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars 2002 plus he is the recipient of the 2003 AAHE (American Association of Higher Education) Black Caucus Exemplary Public Service Award. Earl served on the Executive Board of the AAHE Black Caucus from 1995 through 2001 and was chair of the workshops and seminar subcommittee. The award is for unswerving dedication and service to the Black Caucus and the Higher Education profession.
Currently he is on the Executive Board for American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. Board Member of State College Rotary. Chapter advisor for Delta Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (2003-present). President of NPHC of the Greater Harrisburg Area (2008-2009). Executive Board Member and MOIP chair for Harrisburg Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
