Historically, women who looked beyond their roles as mother, daughter, wife, partner and sister and took up the call to serve our nation have done so with little recognition. These women took on challenges with fortitude and resilience and never gave up – this is the essence of Tracy Threatt, a student counselor for Military Families and Veterans Services at Central Piedmont. 

Tracy helps students achieve their higher education goals and find meaningful career pathways crucial to the economic success of veterans. When she’s not helping veterans and their families at Central Piedmont, you can find Tracy enjoying time with her family and friends.  

Although sharing educational opportunities with veterans in the Charlotte community is her passion now, her future wasn’t always so clear. Tracy shares, “I joined the Navy. Although I was patriotic, it was mainly because I was running from school. I wasn’t a very good student at all. I didn’t like school.” But this pivotal experience changed the trajectory of what was to come. “When I joined the Navy, I saw a different side of myself. I developed leadership skills. I started to believe I could do whatever I wanted to do,” says Tracy.

This new-found confidence would remain present as Tracy navigated her career, and even more so now as she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education & Leadership.  Her dissertation is about female veterans who have successfully transitioned out of the military and enrolled in community college. Being in the last term of her doctoral program is something Tracy would have never expected. But one recurring revelation she gleaned from her time in the military is, “you never know what you’re capable of doing  until you have to do it.”

Tracy has definitely tapped into her mission! She shares, “you have to have a voice, not just for yourself, but also for the other people around you.” This responsibility lives at the core of Tracy’s boldness, along with her strong faith in God, which keeps her centered. She shares, “I read Proverbs 3: 5-6 every day because life can be hard. Motivational quotes are good, but I rely on the Bible. My favorite scripture says, “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy path.”  

Naming her mother and uncle as inspirations for her personal life, her family also taught her the importance of personal relationships and influence. That may be why her family’s mantra is to “be the person that makes everybody feel like they are somebody.”  With this adopted life philosophy, Tracy also says, “what you put out into the universe is what you’re gonna get in return. So treat everyone with respect and dignity.” 

Family and friends who have known Tracy for years, now look at her as a different person – but in a good way. As she advocates for students and fellow employees she advises, “We can honor women more meaningfully by allowing them to use their voices more and giving them a seat at the table to speak on their own behalf. Giving women a platform, along with the freedom and space for them to be themselves is the best way to honor them.”

When asked about what final words to leave with our Central Piedmont community regarding Women’s History Month, she replies, “Be yourself. Never let anyone define who you are. Walk in your greatness and don’t wait for someone to give you permission to be great. Use your obstacles as stepping stones and continue on and upward because there is something in you that this world needs.”