Professor of Practice in Public Policy and Law

• Aug 2023 - Present

Fellow of Practice

• Mar 2020 - Present

Fellow

• 2015 - Present

• The American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. is a public policy think tank committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity and strengthening free enterprise. • Managed the prisoner education and reentry initiative that works with elected officials, judges, nonprofit organizations, universities, and formally incarcerated men and women to reform federal and state criminal justice laws. • Advised members of congress, governors, lieutenant governors, and elected state and local officials about K-12 education and criminal justice policy. • Testified before legislative bodies including the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Virginia Commission on Economic Opportunities for Virginians in Aspiring and Diverse Communities. • Reviewed the Every Student Succeeds Act plans submitted by states to the U.S. Department of Education as a member of a national review team convened by the Collaborative for Student Success and Bellwether Education Partners. • Interviewed scholars, nonprofit executives, and educators for the “Bridging the Dignity Divide” Banter Series. Show less

Vice President for Education

• Mar 2020 - Jun 2022

Executive Director

• Dec 2017 - Mar 2020

• CAO is a Washington, D.C.-based research and education initiative whose mission is to develop evidence-based solutions to the most pressing education, criminal justice, and economic mobility issues in fragile communities throughout the United States. • Manages a five-year budget of $26 million as well as full-time staff and consultants. • Awards scholarships worth up to $7,500 a year to undergraduates attending public or private HBCUs, and fellowships worth up to $40,000 a year to HBCU graduates pursuing a doctorate. • Approves grants for HBCUs to create research centers focused on education, criminal justice, and economic mobility issues. • Organizes an annual “State of Opportunity in America Summit” for professors, reformers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, employers, and others committed to the principles of human dignity. • Supports the release of an annual State of Opportunity in America Report in collaboration with Gallup, Inc. that contains data from 6,230 residents living in fragile communities in 49 states and the District of Columbia to understand the perceived barriers to opportunity and empower organizations that serve these communities to create evidence-based solutions. • Provides thought leadership to national, state, and local public policy and civic initiatives. Show less

Vice President of Partnerships

• 2013 - 2014

• Served as a Trustee of Patten University, a regionally accredited higher education institution located in Oakland, CA, and managed by UniversityNow, Inc. • Patten University partners with the Prison University Partnership to offer an A.A. degree to inmates at San Quentin State Prison. President Obama awarded the National Humanities Medal to this program in 2016. • Worked with the management team to market our services to adults employed by corporations that offer a tuition reimbursement program. • Represented the company before corporate, government, and educational audiences to highlight the importance of education to our economy and the role technology plays in workforce development. Show less

Commissioner of Education

• 2011 - 2012

• Managed the Department of Education and its staff of 3,000 employees, including the Chancellors for K-12 Education and the Division of Florida Colleges. • Approved, for the first time in 10 years, new achievement level scores for grades 3-10 in reading and 3-8 in mathematics for the annual state examination. • Approved a new achievement level score on FCAT 2.0 reading so high school graduates could enter one of Florida’s 28 colleges without needing to enroll in a non-credit bearing course—saving students, parents and taxpayers money in postsecondary remediation costs. • Represented Florida before national policymakers, scholars, and thought leaders. Show less

Secretary of Education

• 2010 - 2011

• Advised Governor Bob McDonnell in the development and implementation of Pre-K-20 education policy in Virginia. • Partnered with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to support the U.S. Department of Defense’s nationwide pilot partnership to provide military families in active service with access to high-quality early education programs. • Partnered with Microsoft to create an IT Academy Program for high school students. • Advised Governor Bob McDonnell in the development and implementation of Pre-K-20 education policy in Virginia. • Partnered with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to support the U.S. Department of Defense’s nationwide pilot partnership to provide military families in active service with access to high-quality early education programs. • Partnered with Microsoft to create an IT Academy Program for high school students.

Program Director // President

• 2005 - 2010

• Managed a budget of $4 million and a full-time staff of 15 employees and 30 consultants. • Provided leadership to national, state, and local education and public policy initiatives. • Supervised the BAEO-Gates Foundation Small High Schools Initiative that resulted in the creation of new schools in Baton Rouge, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. • Managed BAEO’s Annual Symposium to inform, inspire and empower more than 600 parents, educators, youth, donors, and, education reform allies. Show less

Senior Research Associate

• 2006 - 2007

• Supported a longitudinal study in partnership with Westat Research Corporation to compare the impact school choice has on student achievement for low-income students enrolled in traditional public schools, public charter schools, and private voucher schools. • Provided advice to the SCDP on various subjects including research protocols, survey preparation, outreach to economically disadvantaged communities, family sessions, data analysis and interpretation, and report preparation. • Collaborated with a research team that included some of the top education policy analysts, political scientists, and economists in the country. Show less

Senior Fellow

• 2004 - 2006

• Secured foundation funding to partner with College Summit, Inc. to prepare urban and first-generation students for the transition from high school to college. • Testified before the Wisconsin and Minnesota legislatures regarding education policy. • Secured foundation funding to partner with College Summit, Inc. to prepare urban and first-generation students for the transition from high school to college. • Testified before the Wisconsin and Minnesota legislatures regarding education policy.

Consultant

• 2001 - 2004

• Developed education programs for schools and universities. • Conducted workshops for service providers. • Developed education programs for schools and universities. • Conducted workshops for service providers.

Legislative Liaison

• 1999 - 2000

• Worked for Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. • Prepared the superintendent and staff for policy and budget hearings before the District of Columbia City Council and the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. • Worked for Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. • Prepared the superintendent and staff for policy and budget hearings before the District of Columbia City Council and the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia.

Intern

• 1999 - 1999

• Assisted the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia chaired by Tom Davis (R-VA). • Assisted the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia chaired by Tom Davis (R-VA).

Intern

• 1998 - 1999

• Worked in the Office of House Delegate Mary T. Christian (D-Hampton). • Worked in the Office of House Delegate Mary T. Christian (D-Hampton).

Executive Director

• 1995 - 1997

• CAA was a New York City-based nonprofit organization focused on at-risk youth. • Represented CAA before local, state, and national policymakers • CAA was a New York City-based nonprofit organization focused on at-risk youth. • Represented CAA before local, state, and national policymakers

Teacher

• 1995 - 1997

• Taught courses on logical reasoning and African American history to Jersey City and Newark public school students that participated in a Saturday and summer Pre-College Academic Program. • Taught courses on logical reasoning and African American history to Jersey City and Newark public school students that participated in a Saturday and summer Pre-College Academic Program.

Senior Fellow

• 1992 - 1993

• Public policy fellow in the Office of Senator Bill Leonard (R-Upland). • Public policy fellow in the Office of Senator Bill Leonard (R-Upland).

Fifth Grade Teacher

• 1991 - 1992

• Taught English, geography, reading, writing, and other subjects at this private inner-city school in Los Angeles, CA. • Taught English, geography, reading, writing, and other subjects at this private inner-city school in Los Angeles, CA.