Somiah Lattimore joined the ICAP Teaching Team in 2020 after being a program partner for several years. Also in 2020, Somiah joined the University of Richmond’s Provost’s Office as the inaugural Director of the Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship initiative.
Somiah previously served in a joint role as Experiential Learning Director at the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation and Managing Director, Lighthouse Labs University Initiative. It was funded by the largest awarded GO Virginia grant ($1 million) to strengthen student-founded companies around the Commonwealth of Virginia by providing access to acceleration, capital, and workforce development. This work resulted in the creation of more than 150 Virginia jobs and an award-winning acceleration curriculum.
Before joining VCU, Lattimore held leadership and faculty post at Virginia Tech. She spearheaded the relaunch of FourDesign and gained national design recognition winning the 2011 AIGA Grade 6 Award of Merit, Western Virginia Silver ADDY® Award, District 3 Silver ADDY® Award, and National ADDY® Finalist.
Somiah is an internationally recognized design educator and award-winning creative director, having worked with Qualrant, NASCAR, Roush Racing, Novant Health, Commemorative Brands/Balfour, H. M. Terry Co. Inc., Carolina Media Publishing, and Chatham Vineyards. Additionally, Somiah co-launched and co-founded several products, including Cupcake Diva Quest, Dib Dibs, Gokies, and King Tide Supply Co. She currently serves as an advisory board member for Quartr.
Lattimore received her BS and MFA from Radford University and MA in Instructional Design and Technology from Virginia Tech. Her academic research explores human-centered design as a creative driver for innovation and entrepreneurship. Somiah enjoys serving her community with Lighthouse Labs, The Community Foundation of Richmond, Collaboratory of Virginia, and Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Outside of the office, you’ll find her cruising the Chesapeake Bay with her husband Adam, daughters Violet, Lilly Blake, and Laney Jane.