Stephanie J. Jones
Stephanie J. Jones has served as Executive Director of the National Urban League's Policy Institute since January 2005.
The institute, located in Washington, DC, provides research, policy analysis, and advocacy to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights. Under Ms. Jones' leadership, the institute is a potent and respected voice on public policy issues related to the National Urban League's Empowerment Agenda. In addition, Ms. Jones is Editor-in-Chief of the National Urban League's flagship publications, the "State of Black America" report and Opportunity Journal magazine.
From 2002 until 2005, Ms. Jones served as Chief Counsel to Senator John Edwards. In this capacity, she staffed the Senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee, advising him on judicial nominations, the Constitution, civil rights and liberties, homeland security, labor, and other issues. Ms. Jones also was a senior political and policy adviser to Senator Edwards during his presidential and vice presidential campaigns and worked closely with him in the development of his policies on poverty, civil rights, predatory lending, and urban issues.
Prior to working for Senator Edwards, Ms. Jones was Chief of Staff to Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH). From 1994 until 2000, Ms. Jones served in the Clinton administration as Secretary's Regional Representative in the U.S. Department of Education, where she was the administration's principal education representative in a six-state region. During this time, Ms. Jones was frequently detailed to the White House to coordinate and accompany the President and First Lady on scores of domestic and foreign trips, including the president's state visits to Africa, Europe and Asia.
Before entering government service, Ms. Jones was an Associate Professor of Law at Northern Kentucky University's Salmon P. Chase College of Law, where she taught Civil Rights Law, Civil and Criminal Procedure, Entertainment Law, and Trial Advocacy. Ms. Jones also served on the adjunct faculty of Northwestern University School of Law. She previously practiced law with the firm Graydon, Head & Ritchey in Cincinnati, specializing in Litigation, Entertainment Law and Corporate Law. Ms. Jones earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature and Afro-American Studies from Smith College, and her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She also attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University).
Active in her community, serves on the University of Cincinnati College of Law Board of Visitors and is an adviser to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights.
