National Office Staff
Andrew Jaime
Finance Manager
Anourack Chinyavong
Graphic Designer
Austin Sowa
Project Assistant, President’s Office
Benjamin Dawson
Webmaster
Bridget Cichello
National Beat the Odds® Program Coordinator
Chloe Levin
Program Outreach and Engagement Associate, CDF Freedom Schools®
Ciara Mackey-Hall
Program and Research Associate, CDF Freedom Schools®
Crystal Rucker
Regional Development Director
David McClure
Director of Information Technology
Donneika Bullock
Development Donor Database Associate
Emily Gardner
Communications Director
Erica Fields
Data and Systems Manager, CDF Freedom Schools®
Everett Johnson
Donor Data Coordinator
Farai Sikipa
Development Digital Marketing Director
Gijs deLeede
Chief Financial Officer
Janet Canada
Business Office Manager, CDF Freedom Schools®
John Robinson
Network Administrator
Joseph Worthy
National Organizer
Joshua Stewart
Communications Associate
Julie Clover
Director of Foundation Relations
Jylise Smith
Development Project Coordinator
Kathleen King
Deputy Director, Child Health
KC Ortiz
Development Database and Decision Support Manager
Kia Croom
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Laura Trevino
Accounting Manager
Lisa Robinson
Associate Managing Editor
Lori Washington
Foundation and Corporate Partnership Officer
Lovie Brock
Receptionist/Human Resources Assistant
Madison Sampson
Project Manager, Executive Office
Mamie Berry
Director of Administration/Human Resources
Marian Wright Edelman
Founder and President Emerita
Mark Publow
Chief Development Officer
MaryLee Allen
Director of Policy
Max Lesko
National Executive Director
Merlene Vassall
Senior Education Grants Specialist
Michele Smith
Special Assistant to the President
Mina Dixon Davis
Legal Fellow
Pamela Branch
Grants and Accounting Associate
PeLar Bennett-Pryor
Benefits Administrator
Philippa Smithey
National Director, CDF Freedom Schools
Rev. Shannon Daley-Harris
Religious Affairs Advisor
Sarah Bonner
Controller
Sean Dowdie
Cash Manager and Senior Accountant
Sheehan Whelan
Donor Stewardship Manager
Stefanie Sprow
Deputy Director, Child Welfare and Mental Health
Tara Alexis McCoy
Director of Program and Training Initiatives, CDF Freedom Schools®
Tara Barr
Salesforce Database Manager
Teri Hatch
Digital Communications Manager
Yasmin Cespedes-Zaman
Beat the Odds® Program Associate/21CCLC Administrative Clerk
Yoonjung Park
Director of Education Research and Analysis, CDF Freedom Schools®
Zachary Tilly
Policy Associate
Zarrar Mujaddidi
Facilities Manager
California
Ali Forman
Senior Development Manager
Alison Buist
National Director, Child Health
Angelica Salazar
Director of Education Equity
Betty Fang
Policy Associate, Education and Justice
Cadonna Dory
Director of Communications
Danielle Lafayette
Senior Community/Political Organizer
Dominique Nong
Senior Policy Associate
Hanif Houston
Digital Content Manager
Janis Connallon
Senior Health Policy Associate
Linda Swank
Administrative and Operations Coordinator
Lorena Sanchez
Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives
Meghan Best
Assistant Staff Attorney/Policy Associate
Patricia Soung
Director of Youth Justice Policy and Senior Staff Attorney
Saira Soto
Deputy Executive Director, Programs and Administration
Shimica Gaskins
Executive Director, CDF-CA
Haley Farm
Dr. Janet Wolf
Director of Public Theology and Nonviolent Organizing
Children’s Defense Fund
Gerald Wagner
Facilities and Security Manager
Kenneth Libby
Business Manager
Melanie Crowley
Housekeeper
Michael Sands
Maintenance Technician
Ndume Olatushani
Consultant
Theresa Flatford
Housekeeping Manager
Theresa Venable
Langston Hughes Librarian
Minnesota
Alisha Porter
Finance and Operations Director
Bharti Wahi
Executive Director, CDF-MN
Caroline Fong
Youth Program Associate
Eric Armacanqui
Policy and Legislative Affairs Director
Jennifer Bertram
Senior Manager of Administration
May Losloso
Senior Organizer
Sarah Davis
Sanford Middle School Afterschool Site Coordinator
Stephanie Hogenson
Outreach and Communications Director
Theodore Marcil
South High School Afterschool Site Coordinator
Yvonne Lerew
Development Director
New York
Benjamin Anderson
Director of Health Policy
Charlotte Pope
Education Justice Policy Manager
Jamila Baucom
Director of Development
Julia Davis
Director of Youth Justice and Child Welfare
Kimberley Chin
Deputy Director
Korla Roberts
Youth Leadership and Advocacy Manager
Maria Caba
Director of Youth Justice and Child Welfare
Naomi Post
Executive Director, CDF-NY
Olga Gonzalez
Senior Manager of Administration
Ohio
Alison Paxson
Policy Fellow
Ashon McKenzie
Policy Director
Jessica Haywood
Program Coordinator, Beat the Odds® and Freedom Schools
Nicole Thomas
Project Manager, Research and Data
Pamela Kreber
Associate Director of Operations & Fundraising
Tracy Nájera
Executive Director, CDF-OH
Southern Regional
Amanda Furdge
Young Women’s Leadership Director/Social Media DB Manager
Gloria Shields
SRO Program Associate/ Benefits Bank Coordinator
Mary Cook
Cleaning Staff
Mary Fennell
Senior Program Operations Associate
Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald
Southern Regional Director
Rubystine Bridges
Program Development Associate, CDF Freedom Schools®
Shaquite Pegues
Director of Ella Baker Leadership Development
Shirlett Stapleton
Administrative & Grants Management Officer
Verlillian Williams
Gateway to Kindergarten Readiness Project Director
Texas
Cecilia Joseph
Director of Operations
Cheasty Anderson
Senior Policy Associate
Cindy Ross
Community Health Program Coordinator
Clarissa Webb
Youth Programs
Crystal Marcial
Community Health Outreach Associate
Graciela Camarena
Program Manager
Jo DePrang
Policy Research Associate
Laura Guerra-Cardus
Deputy Director
Mary Carreon
Community Health Outreach Associate
Michelle Castillo
Youth Civic Education and Engagement Coordinator
