2026 OCAAHS Eclipse Awardee, Dr. Tamika L. Carey

Dr. Tamika L. Carey is a scholar, educator, author, musician, and community advocate whose journey began in Orange County, Virginia, and whose work honors the stories and traditions that shaped her.

A proud native of the Careytown community and a product of Orange County Public Schools, Dr. Carey earned her B.A. and M.A. in English from Virginia Commonwealth University and her doctorate in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric from Syracuse University. Today, she is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Virginia with more than 25 years of teaching experience.

An award-winning author and scholar, Dr. Carey’s work explores African American rhetorical traditions, Black women’s writing, wllness, and cultural history. Her accomplishments demonstrate to young people from Orange County that their beginnings do not limit their possibilities—they can carry the strength of their community into classrooms, universities, and conversations across the nation.

Most meaningfully, Dr. Carey has brought her scholarship home. She is developing oral history projects that preserve the voices, experiences, and stories of her Orange County ancestors, ensuring their contributions are remembered and shared. Through this work, she builds a bridge between generations and helps future generations understand the legacy upon which they stand.

Her faith remains central to her service. At Chestnut Grove Baptist Church in Barboursville, she serves in ministry and directs and plays piano for the Y&A Choir. The daughter of Orlando and Evelyn Carey, Dr. Carey represents Orange County’s past, present, and future—preserving its stories, uplifting its people, and inspiring generations to come.