Nicole’s journey in education advocacy is deeply rooted in her early career as a public school teacher in Compton, California. Since then, she has been a relentless force for equity. She previously served on Teach For America’s C-suite, where she led teams dedicated to eliminating education inequality nationwide. She also founded and served as president of The Expectations Project, growing it into the nation’s largest network of 50,000 faith-motivated advocates who successfully drove education policy change at the local, state, and national levels.

Beyond her grassroots and policy leadership, Nicole is a powerhouse in the philanthropic sector. She is currently the founder of The Townsend Collaborative, a philanthropy network and advising practice that empowers African American philanthropists to effect systemic change. Her impressive executive background includes serving as Chief Impact Officer at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, where she co-managed a $2.3 billion family foundation. Over her career, she has raised more than $60 million for nonprofits, designed philanthropic strategy for $110 million in grants, and managed an additional $900 million in grants.

Holding a Ph.D. in Education Policy from UCLA, Nicole has authored two books and multiple articles exploring the critical intersection of education, racial equity, advocacy, and justice.

Her exceptional track record of executive coaching, strategic philanthropy, and systems-level policy advocacy makes her an invaluable addition to our leadership team. Please join us in welcoming Nicole as we continue our mission to educate, elevate, and empower emerging leaders of color.