Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes (DC 1975, 1976, 1979) is an award-winning and bestselling author and educator for both youth and adults. In 2021, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Carnegie Mellon University.
She is the author of seven books for children including the New York Times bestsellers “Black Brother, Black Brother” and “Ghost Boys,” which has won over 50 honors and awards. Her other books include six adult novels, a memoir and two writing guides. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, and the Jane Addams Peace Association Book Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award. Rhodes is the Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and Narrative Studies Professor and Virginia G. Piper Endowed Chair at Arizona State University. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she currently lives in Seattle.