Jackie Copeland-Carson

For the more than 30 years, Dr. Jackie Copeland-Carson has worked as an executive with community-based organizations, foundations and corporations to promote social change and responsibility in the U.S. and worldwide. A frequently sought after keynote speaker, she also is an award-winning author and evaluator.

Today she is Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in Silicon Valley, California, where she manages this $34 million faith-based organization's 80 locations, 550 staff, and services to its 40,000 clients.

She has been Executive Director of the African Women's Development Fund USA; founding managing director/vice president of National Philanthropic Services for US Bank's Private Client Group; COO of Twin Cities RISE!, an employment social enterprise; program vice president of The Philadelphia Foundation; and senior consultant with Equal Measure (fka OMG Center).

Chair and co-founder of the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network, she founded Black Philanthropy Month in 2011 as an annual celebration and revival of African-descent throughout our nation and worldwide. She also conducted the initial research and program design for the My Brothers Keeper initiative, now adopted by President Obama to improve the lives of men and boys of color.

A recipient of many leadership awards, she holds two masters degrees, one in urban planning and the other in cultural anthropology, with a PhD in anthropology all from the University of Pennsylvania. Specializing in the US, Africa and South Asia, her undergraduate degrees are from Georgetown University's College and School of Foreign Service in literature, African studies and diplomacy.