January 25, 2012 - Dr. Berlithia J. Pitts greets everyone she meets with the phrase “Peace and Love.” When the Seneca, South Carolina assistant professor teaches English 1102 and African-American Philosophy and Thought, she steps into the classroom imbued with a strong sense of community, cultural awareness and history. Her mission is to share lessons with students that will carry them through life.

 Fort Valley State University’s public relations specialist, Tauheedah Shukriyyah Asad, found out in this week’s “Just Do You” feature what motivates the self-professed introvert.

I always hear students around campus talk about how much they love you. Why do you think you have such a great relationship with those you’ve taught?

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What do you find most enjoyable about teaching?

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Education reform is a huge issue in national news. You’ve been an FVSU professor for nine years; what changes are needed in education?

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You inspire many young people on FVSU’s campus. Who are some of the folks who’ve inspired you?

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Since you’re an English teacher, what are some of your favorite books?

My absolute favorite book has always been and will always be The Autobiography of Malcolm X. From there, it just becomes any number of texts. I teach “Things Fall Apart” so that students can understand the concept of life on the content of Africa before colonization. Maya Angelo’s texts are phenomenal, especially “Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now.” A [book] I always use in my orientation class is Who Moved My Cheese. It’s basic, but the concept of it changes for me every single time I use that book in the classroom.

How is your time spent away from campus?

I've learned within the past two years the importance of separating family, personal life and work. That has become vitally important to me in terms of the happiness of my household. So I spend a significant amount of time with my family and significant other. I also love my great neices, nephews and cousins. I spend as much time as I can spoiling them and teaching them about the importance of their history and education.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests?

I am a crime solver. I do a lot of traveling and I’m always listening to criminal cases in my car, trying to solve them. I enjoy watching and reading murder mysteries. I enjoy spending time writing and reading. I spend a lot of time in self-reflection, trying to better myself. I just need to make sure that what I do each and every day is [aligned with who] God is orienting me to be, and closing out each day with the thought that I’ve fought a good fight and I’ve kept the faith. Also, of course, a lot of my time away from campus is spent grading papers.

One of the things you’re most known for is greeting everyone with the phrase “Peace and Love.” Where did that come from?

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What is something about you that most people don’t know?

I’m an introvert. My students would be flabbergasted to know it, but I love nothing better than to hibernate, close up in the house and have no communication with the outside world.

What are a few of your future aspirations?

I tell students I'm here as a teacher until I figure out what I want to do when I grow up. I always say, "Where you are is not where you are meant to stay." We're ships and we're not meant to dock and stay at port. We always have to branch out and see what's next. One thing I would like to do is fufill my dream of writing. It's a gift that I have to give to my ancestors and the community that's poured into me.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

PEACE AND LOVE!

“Just Do You” is a periodic column that features profiles of FVSU staff, faculty and students. If you’d like to recommend the next JDY feature, contact Vickie Oldham at (478) 825-6319 or   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .