Staff

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad

DEDRICK ASANTE-MUHAMMAD

President

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. For the past 20 years, Asante-Muhammad has dedicated his career to understanding and tackling racial and economic inequities. Asante-Muhammad joins the Joint Center from the Racial Economic Equity and Research at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) where he was vice president. During Asante-Muhammad’s tenure at NCRC, he oversaw fair lending, fair housing, the Women’s Business Center of DC, the National Training Academy, the Housing Counseling Network, and started the Racial Economic Equity Department. As chief of Membership, Policy, and Equity at NCRC, Asante-Muhammad oversaw Membership, Organizing, Research, and Policy.

Asante-Muhammad has worked at many of the nation’s top national non-profit advocacy organizations. Before joining NCRC, Asante-Muhammad served as director, senior fellow, and founder of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative for Prosperity Now. Before this role, he worked as the senior director for Economic Programs at the NAACP; an associate fellow for the Institute for Policy Studies; was a Racial Wealth Divide coordinator for United for a Fair Economy; and served as Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network National field director.

While at United for a Fair Economy, Asante-Muhammad co-founded the State of the Dream report, an annual publication honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that examines the state of racial and economic inequality in the U.S. Asante-Muhammad has continued to be a co-author, providing analysis in publications, including “The Road to Zero Wealth” and “Ten Solutions to Bridge the Racial Wealth Divide.” Over the years, Asante-Muhammad has also become a thought leader in diversity, inclusion, and procurement, as reflected in the Opportunity and Diversity series and the “Racial and Ethnic Representation and Investment Framework for the Banking Industry.”

Previous to his work at national non-profits, Asante-Muhammad worked in higher education at Williams College, Oberlin College, and Morgan State University. He also helped coordinate a college program at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women. Asante-Muhammad has served and serves on various advisory committees and boards, including The Racial Equity Subcommittee of the Joe Biden Economic Policy Committee, Better Markets, the Advancing Black Strategists Initiative, and the Council of US Financial Health Network. 

Asante-Muhammad has been featured in outlets including The Hill, MarketWatch, Yahoo! News, Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, Time, The New York Times, C-SPAN, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlantic, TheGrio, Black Enterprise, and Inside Philanthropy. An avid writer and researcher, more of Asante-Muhammad’s work can be found in Medium, HuffPost, and the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative’s blog.

Asante-Muhammad has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Williams College and a master’s degree in Systematic Theology from Union Theological Seminary.

Jessica Fulton

JESSICA FULTON

Vice President, Policy

Jessica Fulton is the vice president of Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. An expert on issues at the intersection of race and economic policy, Jessica’s work focuses on identifying and promoting policies to advance the socioeconomic status of the Black community. In her current role, she oversees the Joint Center’s research and policy team and leads our Economic Policy research.

Before joining the Joint Center, she served as external relations director at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, where she worked with scholars to advance policymaker understanding of the connection between economic inequality and economic growth. She has also held local research and advocacy positions at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute and the Chicago Urban League.

Jessica is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves on the Board of The Black Swan Academy, an organization focused on increasing civic engagement among Black youth, and the Advisory Board of the Sadie Collective, which strives to increase the representation of Black women in economics. Jessica earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in Economic Policy Analysis from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at Depaul University.

Read her policy analysis and commentary here.

Chandra Hayslett

CHANDRA HAYSLETT

Vice President, Communications

Chandra M. Hayslett is the vice president of Communications at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning communications executive with 24 years’ experience spanning the public relations, marketing and journalism industries. Before joining the Joint Center, she was director of communications at the Center for Constitutional Rights, where she led the overall development of strategic communications.

Prior to the Center for Constitutional Rights, Chandra worked at public relations agencies and nonprofits, where she served as a strategic, trusted counselor who moved public opinion with narrative shifting and thought leadership amplifying CEO and executive director positioning.

Before transitioning into public relations, Chandra spent 11 years as a newspaper reporter covering K-12 public education and politics at newspapers across Tennessee and New Jersey, including the Newark Star-Ledger, where she was part of a reporting team that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news.

Chandra is a member of the New York Association of Black Journalists, the Communications Network, New York Women in Communications, Inc., PR Council, and the Metro Manhattan (NY) Links, Inc. She has a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies from the University of Tennessee and lives in New York City.

Quinci Moody

QUINCI MOODY

Vice President, Finance and Operations

Quinci Moody is the vice president of Finance and Operations at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. A dedicated nonprofit executive with more than fifteen years of experience, Quinci is passionate about guiding emerging nonprofits to achieve their highest potential. She especially enjoys building capacity in organizations working to strengthen vulnerable or underserved communities, and developing nonprofit leaders of color.

In 2005, she earned a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from American University, after completing a BA in English from Florida A&M University in 2003.

After graduate school, Quinci continued to strengthen organizations through her role as program associate at Fair Chance, an organization that provides nonprofit leaders with tools and knowledge they need to thrive. Hired to continue the organization’s expansion into new communities, Quinci successfully led outreach, consulting, and capacity building efforts in several of Washington, DC’s most underserved communities. After conducting comprehensive organizational assessments, based on best practices, to determine capacity building needs, Quinci provided intensive nonprofit capacity building services in areas of board development, fiscal management, fundraising, strategic planning, program evaluation, and human resources. She also provided leadership coaching to executive directors of community-based nonprofits and facilitated quarterly executive director roundtables on relevant nonprofit management topics.

Prior to joining The Joint Center, Quinci served as chief operating officer at The Fishing School, a nonprofit that provides year-round out-of-school-time academic, life skills, and parent engagement programming for youth and families from Washington, DC’s most under-resourced communities. During her ten-year tenure, Quinci served as a critical thought partner to the chief executive, facilitated significant organizational expansion, and oversaw the organization’s fundraising, programs, and operational functions such as human resources, accounting, facilities management, and information technology.

Dr. LaShonda Brenson

DR. LASHONDA BRENSON

Senior Researcher

Dr. LaShonda Brenson is the senior researcher at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, where she leads our Hill Diversity research. Prior to her current role, she served as the senior fellow of diversity and inclusion at the Joint Center.

Prior to the Joint Center, LaShonda served a civil rights analyst at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. At the Commission, LaShonda organized national briefings and wrote reports on municipal fines and fees and its impact on minority communities, minority voting rights, and women in prison. Previously, she was the research director at Project Vote, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded on the belief that an organized, diverse electorate is the key to a better America.

LaShonda earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Political Science from the University of Rochester, and her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Using qualitative interviews with congressional staffers and quantitative methods, her dissertation research provides evidence that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), as institutions, matter. One way she demonstrates the added value of the CBC and CHC is by illustrating that when caucus members serve as caucus leaders, they introduce more bills because of their additional staff capacity.

Read her policy analysis and commentary here.

Jazmyne Brooks

JAZMYNE BROOKS

Development Associate

Jazmyne Brooks is the development associate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, where she is responsible for all administrative aspects of development and cross-departmental activities.

Prior to joining the Joint Center, Jazmyne was a National Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center. Previously, she worked in electoral organizing, serving as the Denver organizing manager at New Era Colorado and as a field organizer and executive assistant during her tenure with MOVE Texas.

Jazmyne is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree in International Development from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Claire Meneer

CLAIRE CAMPBELL

Director, People and Operations

Claire Campbell is the director of People and Operations at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, where she focuses on building structures and policies that allow for organizational growth and centering values.

Previously, Claire was the director of Operations at Millennial Action Project (MAP), whose mission is to empower young elected officials with the tools and resources they need to be effective and empathetic leaders. Before MAP, Claire served as director of Operations at West Wing Writers, a speechwriting and strategic communications firm, where she played an integral role in helping the company double in size during her tenure

A graduate of Heidelberg University, Claire lives in Ohio with her partner, Andrew, and their two Goldendoodles, Bo and Arnie.

Danielle Davis

DANIELLE A. DAVIS, ESQ.

Director, Technology Policy

Danielle A. Davis, Esq., is the director of Technology Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, where she leads the organization's Technology Policy program. Her primary areas of focus encompass broadband adoption and access, content moderation, and privacy issues. She brings a wealth of experience to her role as a highly accomplished attorney specializing in technology and telecommunications law, policy development, and civil rights advocacy.

Before assuming her current position, Danielle held the role of assistant general counsel at the Universal Service Administrative Company. In this capacity, she provided legal counsel related to the administration of the Affordable Connectivity Program and the USF Lifeline Program. Additionally, she served as a Tech and Telecom Policy counsel at the Multicultural Media, Telecom, and Internet Council. Here, she offered guidance on tech and telecom matters to leadership, managed the fellowship program, reviewed outgoing communications, and drafted and edited comments submitted to the FCC and NTIA.

Danielle's dedication to advancing technology and telecom policy is evident in her prior work as a Tech and Telecom Policy fellow at the National Urban League Washington Bureau. In this role, she advised senior management on tech and telecom issues, collaborated on cross-functional teams and projects, and was responsible for drafting U.S. congressional testimony, policy recommendations, comments, letters, and digital outreach materials.

Danielle's impressive academic background includes a Juris Doctor degree from Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, as well as a Bachelor of Science in General Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University, where she graduated cum laude. She is an active member of the Florida Bar, the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA), and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Danielle also serves as a co-chair on the FCBA's Privacy and Data Security Committee.

Notably, Danielle is a skilled writer and editor, having held the esteemed positions of Editor-in-Chief of the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice and Senior Editor of the Barry Law Review during her time in law school. She has also authored numerous publications and conducted research at the intersection of technology, law, and civil rights, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing these critical issues. Lastly, Danielle is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Kayla Elliott

DR. KAYLA ELLIOTT

Director, Workforce Policy

Kayla C. Elliott, Ph.D. is director of Workforce Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank. She leads a team of experts who center Black communities in policy debates concerning the future of work, workforce development, and access to good jobs. Prior to the Joint Center, Kayla was the director for higher education policy at The Education Trust. She has shared her expertise on outlets such as The Washington Post, TheGrio, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Kayla also holds a master's in philanthropy and a certificate in nonprofit management and has worked on P-20 education issues with a range of nonprofit organizations, including Lumina Foundation, the Southern Education Foundation, and Teach For America. Kayla earned a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Florida Atlantic University, where she taught undergraduate courses and worked in research roles in the College of Education and the Provost’s Office.

A proud HBCU advocate and third-generation alumna, Kayla studied business administration at Fisk University. Kayla is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She enjoys cooking, reading, and exploring parks, festivals, and restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area.

Kennedy Fortner

KENNEDY FORTNER

Communications Associate

Kennedy Fortner is the communications associate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, providing support to the communications department through a range of functions. These include overseeing the Joint Center's weekly and monthly newsletters, monitoring media placements, and managing the press pages, blogs, and event placements on the website.

Prior to her role at the Joint Center, Kennedy served as a communications intern at Alma DDB. In this position, she was responsible for managing and distributing daily trend reports to company executives, providing information on clients, competitors, and relevant agency news. She also drafted storyline angles for senior executives to pitch to major advertising trades, developed press releases and advertising award write-ups, and led the graphic creation of social media posts for platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Additionally, she was involved in writing social media and internal communications copy. Kennedy also worked as a public affairs assistant for the City of Miami Gardens, where she spearheaded the curation of social media content for community outreach events and summits.

Kennedy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in Graphic Design from Howard University. During her time at Howard, she participated in ColorComm as a 2023 HBCU Fellow. As part of this program, she had the opportunity to meet with mentors and address diversity and inclusion in the communications, marketing, advertising, media, and digital industries.

Danielle Henry

DANIELLE M. HENRY

Director, Digital Communications

Danielle M. Henry is the digital communications director at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. She comes to Joint Center from EMILY’s List, where she took a metrics-based approach to social strategy. In her previous work as a consultant, Danielle has used her marketing, communications, and digital expertise to support a variety of small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Prior to that she served as senior marketing and communications manager for BoardSource, where she managed publications, social media, and the organization’s website.

Danielle also lends her energy and expertise to community organizations, serving as a volunteer with Parents Amplifying Voices in Education, the Reeb Voting Rights Project, and the Transformation Team for Racial Justice through All Souls Unitarian Church. Danielle earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Studies from Butler University.

Victoria Johnson

VICTORIA JOHNSON

Director, Digital Multimedia

Victoria Johnson is the digital multimedia director at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies where she serves as the Joint Center's visual storyteller and manages the Joint Center's website and multimedia platforms. Victoria joined the Joint Center team in 2018 as the digital communications specialist and served as its communications manager from Feb. 2021 to Dec. 2022.

Prior to joining the Joint Center, she spent six years as a journalist earning robust newspaper and magazine experience while reporting on policy and entertainment for New York Daily News, New York Amsterdam News, Teen Vogue, Mashable, Vulture, and more.

She earned a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations at The City College of New York and a master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (formerly CUNY Graduate School of Journalism), where she specialized in urban city reporting.

Brian Kennedy

BRIAN KENNEDY II

Senior Policy Analyst, Workforce Policy

Brian Kennedy II is a senior policy analyst of Workforce Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Prior to joining the Joint Center, Brian served as a policy advisor in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Recovery Programs where he supported the administration of American Rescue Plan funds to states and local governments. Previously, Brian worked as a consultant with Frontline Solutions, a Black-owned and led consulting firm supporting non-profits and philanthropic organizations. Brian has also worked as a senior policy analyst with the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center, focusing on living wages and social safety net programs.

Brian earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from North Carolina Central University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University. Brian is also the co-host of At The Intersection, a Durham-based podcast about policy, culture, and identity.

Justin Nalley

JUSTIN NALLEY

Senior Policy Analyst, Workforce Policy

Justin Nalley is a senior policy analyst of Workforce Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Justin brings his experience advocating for access to equitable resources for Black communities to produce timely policy research and data analysis, which centers Black workers in workforce development, post-secondary access, and access to quality jobs.

Before joining the Joint Center, Justin served as the senior public policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. In this role, Justin researched, lobbied, and conducted state fiscal analysis to shape policy for Black youth and families in public education, juvenile justice reform, and voting rights. Justin was also instrumental in the formation and recognition of the first union at the ACLU of Maryland and held the role of shop steward, leading contract negotiations. He also worked at Baltimore City Public Schools as an analyst, ensuring the large urban district received accurate state revenue to support their students.

Justin is a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Justin attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore before earning his Bachelor of Business Administration from Temple University and Master of Public Administration from West Chester University.

Kimberly Victor

KIMBERLY VICTOR

Research Associate

Kimberly Victor is the research associate for the Hill Diversity Program at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. She previously served as the Joint Center's research analyst.

Prior to joining the Joint Center, she was a research assistant in various labs at Cornell and Stanford University. At Stanford’s Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions (SPARQ), she worked on projects that utilized behavioral science insights to improve police-community relations and promote equity and inclusion in the education sector. At Cornell, she successfully defended her senior honors thesis on the intersection between race and purpose, arguing that the connection between one’s sense of purpose and racial identity has important implications on one’s well-being, particularly for communities of color.

She also served as a student assistant at the New York State Office of the Attorney General Civil Rights Bureau. There she conducted research to help with education campaigns and worked with various diverse communities to ensure the protection of their rights and access to legal counsel.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development with minors in Inequality Studies and Crime, Prisons, Education, and Justice from Cornell University. During her tenure at Cornell, she worked as the Poetry Program Coordinator for Prisoner Express, helping the organization provide opportunities for creative self-expression through art and poetry to hundreds of incarcerated individuals across the U.S.

Read her policy analysis and commentary here.