Our Staff

Executive Leadership

Victor Fioresi Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer

Victor Fioresi joins the organization as Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive finance and operations experience across nonprofit, software, and technology…

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Raymond C. Pierce President and CEO President and CEO

Raymond C. Pierce serves as the President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation, where he leads the organization’s historic…

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Kenita T. Williams Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Kenita T. Williams joined the Southern Education Foundation in 2017 and serves as the vice president and chief operating…

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Denikka Brown Strategic Initiatives Associate Strategic Initiatives Associate

Denikka Brown serves as a Strategic Initiatives Associate at the Southern Education Foundation, where she supports the organization’s strategic initiatives,…

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Lisa Chester Chief Development Officer Chief Development Officer

Lisa Chester is a widely respected and award-winning connector, innovator, and advocate for transformative initiatives that expand opportunity, build community,…

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Max Altman Director of Research and Policy Director of Research and Policy

As SEF’s director of research and policy, Max Altman, Ph.D., designs and manages SEF’s research agenda and development of research-informed…

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Eshé P. Collins Director, Southern Center for Opportunity and Access Director, Southern Center for Opportunity and Access

Eshé P. Collins is director of the Southern Center for Opportunity and Access at the Southern Education Foundation. She oversees…

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Amber C. Davis Director of Leadership Development Director of Leadership Development

Amber C. Davis serves as the director of leadership development at the Southern Education Foundation. She oversees SEF’s fellowships that…

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Fred A. Jones, Jr. Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy

Fred A. Jones Jr. serves as the senior director of public policy and advocacy for the Southern Education Foundation. His…

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Morgan Tyler Senior Director, HR & Administration Senior Director, HR & Administration

Morgan Tyler is a distinguished executive leader with over 20 years of experience spanning Administration, Operations, and Talent Management. A…

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Tawheedah Abdullah Deputy Director, Southern Center for Opportunity and… Deputy Director, Southern Center for Opportunity and Access

Dr. Tawheedah Abdullah is the deputy director for Southern Center for Opportunity and Access. In this role, she develops and…

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Shelby Singleton Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow

Shelby Singleton is the current Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow. Shelby graduated from the University of Virginia School of…

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Lee Johnson,III Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow

Lee Johnson III serves as a senior fellow for early childhood education at the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) and directs…

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Darian Burns Legislative and Public Policy Analyst Legislative and Public Policy Analyst

Darian Burns joined the Southern Education Foundation in August 2022 as a legislative and public policy analyst on the government…

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Tabitha Reynolds Hoang Research and Policy Analyst Research and Policy Analyst

Tabitha Reynolds Hoang is the research and policy analyst at the Southern Education Foundation. Tabitha supports SEF’s partnerships, publications, dissemination…

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Allison Boyle Research and Policy Specialist Research and Policy Specialist

Allison Boyle is research and policy specialist at the Southern Education Foundation, joining SEF full time after serving as early…

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Jariel Davis Leadership Development Program Associate Leadership Development Program Associate

Jariel Davis is a program associate in Leadership Development at the Southern Education Foundation, where she plays a key role…

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Lauren Mead Senior Operations Program Associate Senior Operations Program Associate

Lauren Mead is the senior operations program associate for the Southern Education Foundation, supporting a range of important functions and…

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Chandra Halstead Executive Assistant/Office Manager Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Chandra Halstead is the executive assistant/office manager for the president. Chandra currently provides executive and logistical support to the president…

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Brown's Promise

Andrea Hamilton Watson Legal Director, Brown's Promise Legal Director, Brown's Promise

Andrea Hamilton Watson is a civil rights attorney and former educator who brings extensive experience advancing educational equity for children…

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Ary Amerikaner Co-Founder and Executive Director, Brown’s Promise Co-Founder and Executive Director, Brown’s Promise

Ary Amerikaner is an education policy leader with experience spanning federal and state government, advocacy, and the law. Ary served…

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GeDá Jones Herbert Of Counsel, Brown's Promise Of Counsel, Brown's Promise

GeDá Jones Herbert is Brown's Promise's Of Counsel, bringing with her a wealth of experience as both an education attorney…

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Stephen Owens Director of Policy and Advocacy, Brown's Promise Director of Policy and Advocacy, Brown's Promise

Stephen began in education policy as a graduate assistant, chronicling the spread and use of research in shaping legislation. Upon…

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Cara Berg Powers Massachusetts State Director, Brown’s Promise Massachusetts State Director, Brown’s Promise

Cara has been working for over 20 years in education, arts and culture to help people reimagine and reshape the…

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