Board of Directors
Board of Directors
AAPF STAFF
Kimberlé Crenshaw
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Kimberlé Crenshaw is the Co-founder and Executive Director of the African American Policy Forum, and the founder and Executive Director of the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies at Columbia Law School. She is the Promise Institute Professor at UCLA Law School and the Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor at Columbia Law School.
She is popularly known for her development of “intersectionality,” “Critical Race Theory,” and the #SayHerName Campaign, and is the host of the podcast Intersectionality Matters!. She also is a columnist for The New Republic, and the moderator of the widely impactful webinar series Under The Blacklight: The Intersectional Vulnerabilities that the Twin Pandemics Lay Bare. She is one of the most cited scholars in legal history and has been recognized as Ms. magazine’s “No. 1 Most Inspiring Feminist;” one of Prospect Magazine’s ten most important thinkers in the world; and even listed in Ebony’s “Power 100" issue.
Dr. Luke Charles Harris
Co-Founder & Deputy Director
Dr. Luke Charles Harris is a former Chair of the Department of Political Science at Vassar College, 2002-2005, and the Co-founder and Deputy Director of the African American Policy Forum. He teaches American Politics, Black Feminist Legal Theory, Constitutional Interpretation and Critical Race Theory. An expert in the field of Critical Race Theory, Harris has authored a series of influential articles on questions of racial and gender equality in the U.S.
Recently, he completed Seeing Race Again: Countering Colorblindness Across the Disciplines, a co-authored edited volume released for publication in March 2019 by the University of California Press (Editors: Kimberlé Crenshaw, Luke Charles Harris, Daniel Martinez HoSang, and George Lipsitz). Currently Luke is working on two book projects: Notes from A Child of Apartheid: The Meaning of Equality in Post-Apartheid America, and The Race Track: Understanding and Challenging Structural Racism, co-authored with Kimberlé Crenshaw and George Lipsitz.
Julian Jackson
Vice President of People and Culture
Julian Jackson is the Vice President of People and Culture where he leads initiatives to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing organizational culture. With over a decade of experience in management consulting, talent development, talent acquisition, and organizational leadership within the nonprofit and social impact sectors, Julian has consistently championed access, equity, and impact in every role he has undertaken.
Before joining AAPF, Julian served as Managing Director at the Nonprofit Professional Advisory Group and as the National Director of Talent at College Track. In these roles, he was instrumental in driving organizational success by enhancing collaboration, cultural competence, and leadership development across all levels of staff. Julian is an alumnus of Morehouse College, where he earned his B.A., and Howard University School of Law, where he received his J.D.
Sumi Cho
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Sumi Cho came out of retirement to serve as the Director of Strategic Initiatives leading the #TruthBeTold campaign. Prior to joining AAPF, she taught Critical Race Theory and Race, Racism & U.S. Law for twenty-five years along with other traditional law classes at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. In 2017, she was awarded the university’s highest excellence in teaching award. She was also the inaugural recipient of the Derrick A. Bell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of American Law Schools’ Minority Section.
She speaks nationally on issues of affirmative action, sexual harassment, intersectionality, multiracial politics and coalitions and critical theory. She holds a Ph.D.in Ethnic Studies as well as a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Professor Cho is cited extensively for her scholarship on critical race theory and intersectionality.
Ashley Julien
Director of Arts & Media
Ashley Julien received a studio arts B.F.A. (2013) from Vassar College and a design M.A. (2020) from The University of Gothenburg in Sweden. She began her work as a community organizer in 2013, campaigning with several NYC coalitions fighting anti-Black police brutality. Heavily inspired by this experience, Ashley developed a design practice of supporting radical collective imagining via conversational formats. Summer 2021, her research on conversation informed a group exhibition she presented in, titled Architecture Projects: Brunnsparken at The Röhsska Museum, that showcased eight speculative conceptualizations for a notoriously debated public space in Gothenburg. At AAPF, she uses her design practice while co-producing the Intersectionality Matters! podcast and when working on other initiatives that explore the mediation and distribution of AAPF's work to multiple publics.
Yvonne Davenport-Perkins
Director of Operations, Facilities & Administration
Special Assistant to the Executive Director
As the Director of Operations, Facilities & Administration at AAPF, Yvonne Davenport-Perkins oversees the efficient and effective operation of AAPF's offices, administrative functions, and operational processes. Her role plays a crucial part in ensuring smooth daily operations and supporting the overall strategic objectives of the organization. As the Special Assistant to the Executive Director, she is a critical piece in the management of the Executive Office and directs the team that supports in overseeing and implementing priorities and supporting the day-to-day functions of the office.
A Brooklyn native, she has worked in the education, health & wellness, and DEI industries over the past 20+ years. Her experience and expertise focuses on operations, project management, human resource administration, strategic planning, and workforce development. Her work has centered on creating authentic, inclusive, and equitable environments both in and out of the workplace. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Psychology from Bernard N. Baruch College (CUNY). She is honored to be part of such a talented, dedicated, and knowledgeable team and looks forward to further spreading AAPF's message.
Kevin Minofu
Senior Research and Writing Fellow
Kevin Minofu serves as the AAPF Senior Research and Writing Fellow. A former law clerk to Justice Sisi Khampepe of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, he graduated from Columbia Law School with his LLM as a James Kent Scholar in 2018 where he had research interests in civil rights, legal philosophy and comparative constitutional law. He holds both an undergraduate degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He also spent several years practicing as an associate at a large commercial law firm in Johannesburg and is an admitted attorney of the South African bar.
Tim Wise
Senior Fellow, Contributing Editor
Tim Wise is among America’s most prominent anti-racist essayists and educators. Over the past 30 years he has spoken in all 50 states, on over 1700 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional conferences, and to community groups, government agencies, and private companies about strategies for dismantling racism in their institutions. He has also successfully served as an expert witness on racism in the workplace and schools in discrimination lawsuits in California and Washington State. Wise is the author of eight books, including his highly acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, and Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity. He has served on the advisory boards of the Fisk University Race Relations Institute, in Nashville, and the National League of Cities’ Racial Equity and Leadership Team, and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Tulane University in 1990.
Nicole Edwards
Senior Audio Producer
Nicole Edwards is a storyteller whose work focuses on health, technology, and social justice. She has an undergraduate degree in Diaspora and Transnational Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Masters degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she specialized in podcast production. Before joining the team at AAPF as Senior Producer of Intersectionality Matters! with Kimberlé Crenshaw, Nicole worked as a producer of the Munk Debates podcast, contributed to the Undark Podcast, and was producer and host of TVO's Screen Time podcast. She is honored to be entrusted with uplifting stories that further the mission of AAPF and its partners.
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Kristin Penner
Senior Research Analyst
Kristin Penner is a Senior Research Analyst at AAPF. Her work centers on visual mapping of the networks and infrastructure behind right-wing campaigns, including those against affirmative action, Critical Race Theory, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, and environmental protections. Kristin speaks and writes nationally about how these campaigns are linked, their funders and proliferation of misinformation, as well as the role of media in obscuring their interconnectedness.
Kristin graduated magna cum laude in History and Literature from Harvard College, holds an MA in History from the University of California at Berkeley, where her work focused on race, gender and colonialism, and an MA in Feminist Clinical Psychology from New College of California. She is also a co-founder and board member of the Coalition for a Diverse Harvard, an independent non-profit fighting for diversity, equity and racial justice in higher education.
Sam Shapiro
Data Operations Analyst
Sam Shapiro is a Data Operations Analyst at AAPF. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in education history and policy. Before AAPF, he managed data at Justice Resource Institute, a nonprofit providing wraparound services to HIV-affected populations in Massachusetts.
At AAPF, he supports data collection, analysis, tech, and other team needs. Sam was raised in the progressive Jewish tradition of social justice, civil rights, and unionism, about which he remains passionate and committed.
Awoye Timpo
Creative Arts Administrator
Awoye Timpo is a New York-based performing arts director and producer. Her work with AAPF includes development of the play Say Her Name: The Lives That Should Have Been. Awoye’s New York credits include work at New York Theatre Workshop, The Vineyard Theatre, The Playwrights Realm, Atlantic Theater Company, the National Black Theater and the Public Theater. Regionally she has directed at Studio Theatre (DC), Actors Theatre of Louisville, Long Wharf Theatre (New Haven) and Berkeley Rep. Her work has also been seen in Edinburgh and Johannesburg. Awoye works as a Creative Director for music events and is a Producer of CLASSIX, a series exploring classic plays by Black playwrights.
Jinaki Brown
Senior People Operations Associate
Jinaki Brown is the Senior People Operations Associate at AAPF. She brings over nine years of experience in event coordination, program management, and community engagement. Previously, as Coordinator of Council Operations & Membership at The Girl Scouts of USA, she oversaw logistical coordination for 111 councils, managed membership plans, and organized key events like the National Membership Conference. Notable achievements include developing a virtual workbook for conference attendees and leading impactful retreats for senior teams.
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Jinaki volunteered as a fencing instructor with the Peter
Westbrook Foundation, later founding a successful fencing program at the Rosalyn Yalow
Charter School. She also established the Empath Club, fostering emotional intelligence skills
among upper school students.
Her approach to both professional and volunteer work is informed by her top CliftonStrengths:
Relator, Restorative, Strategic, Empathy, and Competition.
Ariana Thorpe
Program & Community Engagement Associate
Ariana Thorpe is a Program & Community Engagement Associate at AAPF. She graduated from Boston University, where she double majored in Linguistics and International Relations with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. During her time at university, Ariana was passionate about human rights, race, and gender, pursuing research centered on the intersection of nuclear policy and race. In addition to academic research she also built upon her skills in non-profit research, administration, and program support as a research intern for Shaping Her Earth which focused on community building, mentorship, and wellness for Black women and girls, and other women of color. At AAPF, she supports the development and implementation of program protocols and administrative support to AAPF programs and advocacy projects.
Sana Hashmi
Research Associate
Sana Hashmi is a Research & Writing Fellow at AAPF. She received her Master's degree in African American Studies from Columbia University in 2022, where she received the Zora Neale Hurston Thesis Award for Social Sciences. Sana is an avid writer and researcher, and is deeply committed to the work of racial justice.
Akeem Nelson
Operations & Programs Associate
Akeem Nelson serves as the Operations & Programs Associate at the African American Policy Forum, where he leads cross-functional logistics that power the organization’s fundraising campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and national media presence. With a background in executive operations and a sharp eye for process improvement, he has helped drive measurable results and is known for connecting strategy to execution. He builds repeatable systems that reduce friction, unlock capacity, and keep teams aligned on what matters most.
Outside of his role, he’s a passionate sports fan who believes a great team is all about timing, precision, and knowing when to make the clutch play.
Carlie Schrouder
Program Coordinator
Carlie Schrouder is the Program Coordinator at the African American Policy Forum, supporting the planning, execution, and outreach efforts for AAPF’s programs and campaigns. Her work spans community engagement, digital communications, advocacy, and event coordination; contributing to initiatives that elevate intersectional racial and gender justice.
With experience across both corporate environments and non‑profits focused on serving Black communities and youth, Carlie brings a unique combination of strategic insight and mission‑driven dedication. Since relocating from Montreal to New York City in 2023, she has continued to center her passion for building community, particularly with marginalized and often‑overlooked populations.
Carlie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Relations. She is deeply committed to making a meaningful, lasting impact and is driven by the belief in doing something greater than herself. Her passions outside of work include exploring arts and culture as tools for social connection and transformation. At AAPF, she looks forward to learning from her peers and contributing to the dynamic networks advancing equity and justice.
Angel Nwadibia
Special Assistant, Strategic Projects & Executive Affairs
Angel Nwadibia serves doubly as the Special Assistant for Strategic Projects and as a fellow at the Center for Intersectional and Social Policy Studies (CISPS) at Columbia Law School for AAPF. Academically, Angel specializes in the philosophy of language and its intersections with questions of race, gender, and identity.
Alongside her academic pursuits, Angel has been deeply involved in community organizing and political activism. Her organizing journey began nearly a decade ago when she spearheaded efforts to halt the construction of additional fossil fuel power plants in her county. Since then, she has continued to campaign against environmental racism at local, national, and international levels.
Angel aspires to pursue a PhD in philosophy with a focus on creating tangible social impact—a core value that guides both her organizing work and intellectual pursuits. She is excited to bring this commitment to AAPF.
Aniah Francis
Research and Writing Fellow
Aniah Francis is a Afro-Trinidadian advocate for Black girls across the African Diaspora. She currently serves as Research and Writing Fellow at AAPF. Prior to being a research and writing fellow, Aniah was a Young Scholar, Young Scholar Ambassador and a Race and Gender Fellow at AAPF. She is a recent graduate of the University of San Francisco where she studied Sociology with a concentration in Criminology, Law and Society and minored in African American Studies, Legal Studies, and Public Service and Community Engagement. Her research interests focus on the experiences of Black girls across the diaspora as it relates to structural failing around their gender, race and sexuality. She hopes to continue deepening her knowledge and developing her research and advocacy skills at AAPF and by pursuing a Phd in sociology.
Kaila Philo
Research and Writing Fellow
Kaila Philo is a journalist and editor based in Washington, D.C. Previously, she worked as the social media coordinator for the Double Exposure Film Festival, an investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo, the Justice Department correspondent for Courthouse News Service, and an editorial fellow on the Politics and Ideas desks at The Atlantic. Her writing has been published in Slate, Talking Points Memo, POLITICO, The New Republic, Vice News, The Appeal, and more. She's been chosen as a fellow for the Maynard Institute For Journalism Education's fellowship program on the Investigative Storytellers track and the Periplus Collective's inaugural fellowship class.
Edwin Rivera Castellanos
Research and Writing Fellow
Edwin Rivera Castellanos is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Education, Society, and Culture program at the University of California, Riverside, and a Research & Writing Fellow at the African American Policy Forum (AAPF). His research delves into the nuances of educational policy and racial equity, with a particular focus on the historical and ongoing impacts of school segregation policies in communities like Lennox, California. Edwin’s scholarship examines how these policies shape educational outcomes and community dynamics, bringing a critical eye to the intersections of race, class, and education. At AAPF, he enhances policy advocacy by articulating the complexities of structural inequalities that African American and other marginalized communities face, supporting efforts to advance racial justice and equity in education and beyond.
Dr. Gina Loring
Artist-in-Residence and Poet Laureate
Dr. Gina Loring is an artist who alchemizes sociopolitical issues into art. As guest artist of the American Embassy under the Obama administration, she has performed her poetry and music in over ten countries. She was featured on two De La Soul albums, two seasons of HBO’s Def Poetry, and has been commissioned to write poems honoring Quincy Jones and Prince. With a BA from Spelman College, an MFA from Antioch University Los Angeles and a doctorate degree for which she studied at USC and Clark Atlanta University she is a professor in the Los Angeles Community College district. Additionally, she teaches poetry workshops with incarcerated teens and youth transitioning out of trafficking.
Abby Dobson
Artist-in-Residence
Abby Dobson is one of AAPF's Artist-In-Residence. A Sonic Conceptualist Artist, Dobson’s sound is the alchemy of R&B/Soul, jazz, classic pop, gospel, and folk, forging a gem that erases musical boundaries. Abby has performed at venues such as S.O.B's, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, and The Tonight Show (Jay Leno). Her debut CD, "Sleeping Beauty: You Are the One You Have Been Waiting On” was released in 2010 to glowing reviews. Abby received a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor’s degree from Williams College in Political Science and History. An independent scholar, Abby’s research interests focus on the intersection of race and gender in the imagination, creation, consumption, and distribution of music.
Dina Wright-Joseph
Artist-in-Residence
Dina is a creative activist and a director of the African American Policy Forum’s Young Scholars Program. As a trained professional dancer, she has toured nationally and internationally as a principal dancer and dance captain with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. Her performance work has been archived in the PBS documentary “Free to Dance,” and was featured in the Smithsonian Museum’s centennial installation titled “Black Dance in the 20th Century.