Dr. Kenita T. Williams joined the Southern Education Foundation in 2017 and serves as the chief operating officer. Kenita is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the organization, as well as the implementation of SEF’s programmatic priorities. Additionally, Kenita represents SEF’s values and efforts to key external partners and serves as a thought partner to the president and CEO—helping to create the organizational systems, processes, and culture that ensure that SEF is as catalytic and impactful as possible.

Kenita brings a wide range of knowledge and critical experience to SEF, having held positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has served as the partnerships manager for Atlanta Public Schools and as senior program manager for Public Policy at the Southeastern Council of Foundations. She spent several years as a consultant for JFM Consulting Group and worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Correspondent for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama. Kenita is also a Teach for America alumna and spent three years teaching third grade in Atlanta.

Kenita earned her bachelor’s in political science and history from Yale University, her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, a teaching certificate from Georgia State University, and her doctorate of education degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Fred A. Jones Jr. serves as the senior director of public policy and advocacy for the Southern Education Foundation. His core responsibilities include creating and advancing equitable public policy solutions aligned to the mission and values of SEF at the federal, state, and local levels.

Fred began his career working for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee, playing a supporting role in reauthorizing the Higher Education Act and the National and Community Service Act, and in passing the Affordable Care Act. He served as the director of government affairs for the United Negro College Fund, advocating for more equitable student aid and appropriations policies. Most recently, Fred served as the director of policy for the Aurora Institute, providing technical assistance and policy-implementation strategies for federal and state policymakers interested in adopting student-centered learning policies. He has a range of policy and advocacy experience, from early childhood development through postsecondary education.

Fred completed the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative at Furman University. He is a Pahara-NextGen Fellow, an Institute for Responsible Citizenship Scholar, a National Collegiate Scholar, a Coro Fellow, and a 10-time All-American track and field athlete. He also serves on the board of the Linked Learning Alliance.

Fred holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tufts University and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Eshé P. Collins is director of the Equity Assistance Center-South (EAC-South) at the Southern Education Foundation. She oversees the center’s operations and leads its work with public school systems to address long-term disparities in pre-K through 12 education across 11 southern states and the District of Columbia. Eshé also is responsible for identifying and establishing partnerships with like-minded organizations to advance equitable practices in education in the region.

She brings a wide range of experience to the EAC-South, holding such roles as the senior director of programs for the education nonprofit Jumpstart, senior program director for the Georgia State University College of Education, and an educator with Atlanta Public Schools. She currently serves as a member of the Atlanta Board of Education. Early in her career she served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable James A. Winn, Jr., on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and a policy analyst for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.

Eshé has earned high recognition for her work, including the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA Woman of Innovation in Education award; Carl V. Patton President’s Award for Community Service and Social Justice; and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Torch of Peace Award. She also was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s and Georgia State University’s 40 Under 40. A civil rights lawyer, Eshé earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College, master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia State University, and her Juris Doctor from the North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude.

Sara Haj-Hussein joined SEF in early 2024. She directs SEF’s fundraising campaigns and outreach to current and prospective donors. She curates new partnerships and builds on existing relationships to help advance SEF’s work.

Sara has spent more than a decade of experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, including the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation, and the Atlanta Area Council, BSA. Originally from Tennessee, she is a graduate of Agnes Scott College with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

In her spare time, Sara volunteers as an active silver member in the Junior League of Atlanta and enjoys museums, adventures with her dog, and cheering on AFC Richmond, Atlanta United, and the Atlanta Braves.

Alan Richard is the director of communications for the Southern Education Foundation. A veteran education writer, he contributes to SEF’s mission by fostering public discourse on important education issues and highlighting SEF’s influential research, policy, and leadership programs.

As a journalist, he covered the South and rural America for Education Week. His work also has been published by The Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, The Nation and many others. He was awarded national first prizes by the Education Writers Association for his coverage of school inequality in the South and rural communities.

Alan joined SEF after serving as the Southern Regional Education Board’s (SREB) media relations officer. Earlier in his career, he had served as SREB’s director of communications.

He also has worked with many education organizations as an independent consultant and at Hager Sharp, a public relations firm in Washington, DC.

A national board member for Parents for Public Schools and the Rural School and Community Trust, he began his career as a reporter for newspapers in his native South Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

Allison Boyle is research and policy specialist at the Southern Education Foundation, joining SEF full time after serving as early childhood education research fellow for the organization’s research and policy team.

Prior to working with SEF, she worked as an intern for the executive director of Children First, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that engages with families and the court system to promote safe, stable and nurturing living environments for children in Athens, Georgia, and the surrounding counties. Her work at Children First focused on racial justice in foster care and the court system, as well as providing guidance on various human resource objectives and helping navigate the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Allison also has several years of firsthand experience in Early Childhood Education as a former assistant teacher at the University of Georgia’s University Childcare Center.

Allison holds a bachelor’s in international affairs and a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in public policy from the University of Georgia.

Harry Chiu is the inaugural Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow at the Southern Education Foundation and the Southern Poverty Law Center. He began his fellowship in September 2022. He is developing strategies to advance education equity through legislative advocacy and litigation on behalf of marginalized students across the South.

Harry is an alumna of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme and previously taught English to elementary and middle school students in Kagawa Prefecture. He coached students in national-level English speech tournaments and participated in numerous cultural exchange events.

As a law student, Harry was extensively involved with Lambda, the LGBTQ+ student society, founding the Public Interest Careers Chair by conducting extensive peer mentorship and planning dozens of networking and community events. He interned at GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, contributing research on the Establishment Clause for an amicus brief in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Fulton v. City of Philadelphia on anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination by government contractors. Harry was the student speaker at the 2022 Harvard Lavender Graduation for LGBTQ+ students.

Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Harry holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of British Columbia.

Sherrell Glenn is the program coordinator supporting the Outcomes Based Contracting initiative through district relationship management, data collection, resource development, and funder reporting.

Prior to her current position, Sherrell honed her skills as a school program coordinator for Georgia Commute Options, where she demonstrated her commitment to creating sustainable transportation solutions around schools and promoting environmentally friendly practices.

Sherrell’s dedication to education is her 11 year history with the Dekalb County School District. As an educator, she worked to make a positive impact on the lives of students by helping them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed academically and beyond.

Sherrell received her bachelor’s degrees in education from the University of Alabama.

Asley Gulaid is the senior leadership development program associate at the Southern Education Foundation, supporting SEF’s comprehensive and proactive leadership-development strategy, including program design and implementation.

Prior to joining SEF, Asley served as a Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Education Forward DC, creating a landscape analysis and implementation report to strengthen equity and amplify teacher-voice in support of Washington, DC, students.

Asley is a Teach for America alumna and previously taught third-grade math in Memphis, Tennessee. In her time as an educator, she planned community events and organized efforts to expand access to quality educational opportunities for the greater Memphis community.

Asley received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and business administration from the University of Florida.

Danielle Harris is the program manager for the Equity Assistance Center-South at the Southern Education Foundation, overseeing the Center’s day-to-day operations.

Prior to this role, Danielle was the manager of development and donor operations for SEF, managing the donor-relations program and fundraising initiatives for the organization. She previously served as operations and strategy program associate, assisting with key strategic initiatives and new pathways for impact, partner engagement, and the development and management of organizational strategy and operations.

With more than a decade of experience in education with Atlanta Public Schools, Danielle previously served as a site director, revamping an out-of-school enrichment curriculum to  align with the development needs of the students. Her work also led to three out-of-school programs becoming nationally accredited through the Council on Accreditation.

Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Lauren Mead is the operations program associate for the Southern Education Foundation, supporting a range of important functions and assisting the COO with key projects.

Previously, Lauren served as program manager at MedShare International, an organization focused on alleviating global health disparities. She focused heavily on program evaluation, volunteer efficiency, and waste reduction. She also managed volunteer operations, corporate events, and distribution of much-needed medical supplies during COVID-19 across greater Atlanta. With more than a decade of work in the nonprofit finance and fundraising, she has previously hosted galas, written grants and impact reports, and managed donor relationships.

Lauren also stays involved in local politics, having served as campaign finance manager for a successful grassroots city council campaign.

Lauren holds a bachelor’s in English and creative writing from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University.

Jasmine Walker serves as the senior manager of OBC engagement. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing and executing the deepening engagement strategy for the Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) strategic initiative; including managing relationships with districts that have already launched OBC projects and are interested in exploring new areas.

Prior to this role, Jasmine served as the director of K-12 mathematics for Duval County Public Schools, where she played a key role in the district’s mission of providing educational excellence for every student, every day. Additionally, Jasmine led the work of piloting Outcomes Based Contracting for high impact tutoring in Grade 8 mathematics for Duval County Public Schools. Over the past 16 years, she has served in roles as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, content specialist, region, and district-based administrator.

Jasmine holds a bachelor’s degree in exceptional student education from the University of North Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Florida State University.