Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Youth Seminar and currently serves as the Interim Vice Provost at San Diego State University, where she leads initiatives in academic innovation and faculty excellence. A nationally recognized expert in speech, language, and hearing sciences, Sonja is also a tenured professor and former Program Director of the M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology. Her research focuses on child language acquisition and disorders in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and she has been awarded numerous federal and local grants—including several from the National Institutes of Health—to support her groundbreaking work.
Sonja is a proud product of Louisiana and a lifelong believer in the power of youth leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, and her passion for education and mentorship has defined her career in both academic and community settings. She is a dedicated teacher and mentor, recognized with multiple Outstanding Faculty Awards and a strong publication record that spans peer-reviewed journals, national presentations, and collaborative school partnerships.
Her leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where she attended as a delegate in 1995 from Riverdale High School and was named Most Outstanding Delegate. She returned to serve as a Junior Counselor, Counselor, Head Table member, and Program Director from 2000–2003. Sonja is a proud member of the LYS 5-Year Club, was inducted into the LYS Hall of Fame, and currently serves on the Board of Directors in addition to her role as Executive Director.
Whether mentoring future speech-language pathologists in San Diego or empowering high school students in Baton Rouge, Dr. Pruitt-Lord is committed to helping others find their voice, embrace their potential, and lead with empathy and purpose. Through every chapter of her life, her message remains the same: leadership starts with listening, learning, and lifting others up.
Sonja has spent the last 25-plus summers (and her Birthday!) in Baton Rouge but resides in San Diego with her husband and daughter.