Jacqueline Copeland

Dr. Copeland-Carson is Chief Operations Officer for Catholic CharitIes of Santa Clara County, a $34 million multiservice nonprofit devoted to addressing poverty in Silicon Valley. Trained as an anthropologist and urban designer, Dr. Copeland-Carson has worked in the philanthropy, organizational and community development, as well as health fields in the US, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Brazil. In her more than 30 years as a social justice advocate and innovator, she has been president of Copeland Carson & Associates, advising nonprofits and corporations on social change and responsibility issues. Former founding executive director of the African Women's Development Fund USA (AWDF USA), Jackie's groundbreaking work has helped to improve the lives of millions of people throughout the US and world. A teacher, trainer, curator, blogger, frequently sought after speaker and published author on a wide range of business and social sector issues, Dr. Copeland-Carson's writings influential in multiple fields. Founder of the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network (PAWPNet) and Black Philanthropy Month, her work has been recognized with several leadership awards. She is proud of doing the initial design of My Beothers Keeper as a commissioned study for the Ford Foundation in 2008 that ultimately would become the basis of an Obama Administration legacy project to advance the life prospects of low-income men and boys of color. Jackie holds two masters degrees, one in urban planning and the other in cultural anthropology, with a Ph.D. in anthropology all from the University of Pennsylvania. Specializing in the US, Africa and South Asia, her undergraduate degrees are from Georgetown University in literature and African studies. She also studied African history, culture, languages and religion at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.