Civil Rights Experts 2025

Dr. Robinson is an executive coach and organizational consultant that focuses on transformational culture change to build thriving workplaces and institutions. During her tenure at Gallup, she consulted with and coached managers, leaders, and chief executives across industries, including Fortune 500, Big Tech, nonprofit, entertainment and media, FedGov, defense, healthcare, higher education, and biotech. She cohosted 3 seasons of Gallup’s “CliftonStrengths Podcast” on the topics of workplace wellbeing, leadership, engagement, and strengths-based development. She was most recently a guest on the “Unstoppable Mindset” podcast and the “Mental Selling” podcast, among others. Dr. Robinson is a member and contributor of Forbes Coaches Council and was a contributing editor to Gallup’s Wallstreet Journal Bestseller, “Wellbeing at Work: How to Build Thriving and Resilient Teams.” She has been featured in MSN as one of ten trailblazing women revolutionizing their fields. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminology from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, a master’s degree in criminology, law and society from the University of California - Irvine, and a doctorate degree in international psychology with an emphasis in organizations and systems from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is PCC certified with the International Coaching Federation, CliftonStrengths certified with Gallup, Inc., Builder Profile 10 trained with Gallup, Inc., and Hogan Assessments certified through Pixonality.

Eric Epstein is a former senior federal agency counsel with more than three decades of experience drafting, implementing, and defending major federal legislation and regulations. Before retiring from federal service, he served as Senior Policy Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where he was a principal advisor to executive leadership, the Attorney General, and White House officials on complex regulatory, legislative, and national enforcement matters. Over a 32-year career, he drafted and helped implement major federal firearms and explosives regulations and legislation, including the firearms trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and ATF’s “Ghost Gun Rule,” which was later upheld by the United States Supreme Court. He spent 15 years in the field working alongside ATF agents and investigators on criminal and regulatory cases, providing firsthand operational insight into how federal laws are enforced in practice. He also represented ATF before industry leaders at trade conferences and executive meetings, giving him direct experience with how federal regulatory policy affects manufacturers, importers, retailers, and other regulated entities. Throughout his career, he authored dozens of federal regulations and rulings, advised members of Congress on statutory language, and worked closely with the U.S. Solicitor General in Supreme Court litigation. His work shaped administrative records, national enforcement policy, and compliance strategy across regulated industries. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, the highest honor for career federal employees, as well as the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Epstein is the founder and CEO of Commentari, an AI-based platform that helps individuals and organizations analyze legislation and agency rulemakings and draft substantive public comments grounded in the Administrative Procedure Act. His work focuses on regulatory and legislative strategy, public comment impact, and litigation risk in federal policymaking. He provides commentary on federal rulemaking, legislative drafting, administrative law, regulatory litigation risk, firearms and explosives legislation and regulation, and how federal agencies develop, defend, and enforce major policy decisions. He is available to provide clear and practical insight into complex regulatory and legislative developments. He is based in the Washington, D.C. area.

Tracy Sanders Rucker, Esq., is a nationally recognized employment, education, and immigration law attorney, bestselling author, and continuing legal education (CLE) presenter. Founder of Natural Hair and the Law and the Attorney Tracy Sanders Foundation, she is a leading voice on hair texture discrimination, workplace culture, and post-DEI compliance in schools and businesses. Her work has been featured by ABC, MSNBC, TLC, Essence, Avvo, and the Los Angeles Sentinel, and she has spoken at Yale University, Arizona State University, Loyola Law School, Arizona State University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and other higher education institutions. She has authored bestsellers, including Natural Hair in the Workplace: What Are Your Rights?, The CROWN Act Handbook, and Wearing Our Crowns — each recognized in national media and ranked #1 in key legal categories on Amazon Kindle. Her advocacy has earned honors from U.S. Congress members, Netflix, eBay, Benedict College Women’s Business Center, and the Los Angeles Lakers Women’s Business Awards. She also hosts the Legal Talk With Tracy Sanders podcast and earned degrees from Syracuse University College of Law, the University of South Carolina, and Cornell University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship program. See: https://smb.americanpress.com/article/Attorney-Tracy-Sanders-Launches-Insightful-New-Book-on-Hair-Texture-Discrimination-in-Workplaces-and-Schools?storyId=683ff0e944ed71000866c89f http://int.cerifilegaledge.com/program_guide/search_results.jsf?courseTopicType=1&provider=32008108&requireCourseNumber=false&accredStatus=%5B%5D&format=On+Demand.Live.Live+Conference https://lexvid.com/cle-speakers/tracy-sanders-rucker https://www.lawline.com/lawyer/tracy-sanders-rucker

Elizabeth (Liz) Ngonzi is a human-centered AI strategist, executive advisor, and educator who helps boards, executive teams, and institutions move AI from experimentation to accountable adoption. Her work focuses on strengthening human judgment, governance, workforce readiness, and institutional capability in the age of AI. She serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Artificial Intelligence (ASFAI) and is Founding Chair of its Ethics & Responsible AI Committee. She is also the Originator, Editor-in-Chief, and Founding Platform Architect of AI for Humanity: Human-Centered Strategies for Innovation and Impact, an AI-powered public-benefit platform and living anthology developed with ASFAI. Through this work, she convenes and synthesizes perspectives across governance, policy, technology, business, education, finance, and social impact. An Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, Liz designs and teaches the AI for Impact professional learning series. She has taught at NYU since 2009 and, in fall 2026, contributed expert perspective to the ethics module of the AI @ NYU Primer, a university-wide learning experience for undergraduate students. Her teaching draws on her 1+1+AI=10™ methodology and SHINE™ Storytelling Framework to help professionals develop practical, ethical AI use cases and strengthen communication, collaboration, and accountable decision-making. Her perspectives on human-centered AI, governance, leadership, workforce transformation, and institutional innovation have appeared in or been featured by Fast Company, Benzinga, CNET, Chicago Tribune, NPR, Voice of America, Scientific American, MarketWatch, InformationWeek, and The NonProfit Times. With more than 25 years of cross-sector experience spanning technology, business, education, and social impact, Liz is available to comment on AI governance, institutional adoption, workforce transformation, AI and human judgment, responsible innovation, AI literacy, public trust, and strategic storytelling.

Ashley Smith is an AI Visibility Strategist, speaker, podcast host, and founder of Show Your Proof. She specializes in helping seasoned professionals, fractional executives, and legacy industry leaders (with a particular emphasis on the real estate sector) bridge their real-world reputations into the modern era of AI-powered search. As the developer of "The Proof Gap" concept and the P.R.O.O.F. framework, Ashley’s work explores a critical shift in the current business landscape: how Google’s new AI search engines, LLMs, and conversational AI answer engines are silently rewriting the rules of client trust, digital visibility, and traditional word-of-mouth referrals. Backed by nearly two decades of leadership and governance experience inside relationship-driven industries, Ashley is a Top Forty Under 40 award recipient and served as the youngest Board Chair and lead media spokesperson in her metropolitan real estate board’s 100-year history, representing over 14,000 professionals. She uniquely understands how highly skilled leaders can accidentally become "invisible to the algorithm" and provides non-technical, highly actionable frameworks to ensure offline prestige is properly indexed, cited, and recommended by modern search platforms. As an experienced public speaker, frequent media guest, and author of the popular "Show Your Proof" newsletter on LinkedIn, Ashley is highly comfortable delivering high-energy, zero-fluff commentary on tight deadlines. Core Media Topics & Angles: - The Proof Gap: Why decades of real-world executive experience read as an "empty room" to AI search engines, and how to fix it. - The New Era of Google Search: Moving past old SEO keyword hacking to structure real authority for AI-driven answer engines. - The Future of Trust & Referrals: How consumer behavior is changing as buyers ask AI assistants for direct recommendations instead of scrolling through traditional web links. - Real Estate & Technology: The evolving intersection of modern visibility, industry trends, and professional reputation. - Minimum Viable Proof (MVP): Why leading professionals don't have to become content creators to prove they are the trusted expert.

A former award-winning math and computer science teacher, Angira has led RedefinED Atlanta initiatives expanding high-quality public school access for thousands of Metro Atlanta students since 2017. Her work centers on increasing opportunity, improving student outcomes, and strengthening local school systems. In this role, she sets the strategic vision, oversees partnerships and grantmaking, and drives initiatives that strengthen public schools, develop exceptional school-level talent, and support transformational leadership. Before joining RedefinED Atlanta as a founding staff member, Angira served as Director of Finance and Director of Talent Initiatives at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston. She was previously a high school math and computer science teacher in the Houston Independent School District, where she earned a United States Congressional Recognition for her contributions to STEM education. Angira began her career as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley. Topic expertise: - General K-12 public education landscape including importance of school quality, student equity, community conditions, and etc. - School district facility/redistricting changes - Research informed student-centered decision making/implementation to district initiatives - Student enrollments decline and district planning - Student achievement data (NAEP, Milestones, CCRPI) and subgroup (race, gender, special needs) learning gaps - Learning recovery strategies - STEM equity and access - Innovative public K-12 school models, e.g., workforce development related schools - School board leadership and governance

I’m Theresa White, a Career Clarity Expert and 5x Certified Career Coach dedicated to helping professionals find purpose and direction in their careers. With a background in HR and a deep commitment to empowering others, I’ve guided hundreds of professionals to uncover fulfilling and impactful career paths. My work is more than just career coaching; I’m a clarity strategist, known for using my unique insights and proven methods to unlock the potential within my clients. Through my proprietary Career Clarity Formula, I deliver rapid, transformative results for clients who are tired of feeling stuck and uncertain about their professional futures. My approach combines practical tools, like the Sparketype® Assessment, with research-backed techniques to help people uncover their true strengths and aspirations. These “aha moments” are the core of my work, and they’re what allow my clients to move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Through y program, I've transformed career coaching into a results-driven journey that brings clarity and purpose, while reducing the time traditionally spent on finding direction. This approach has empowered my clients to find careers they love, often with improvements in income, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction. As a leading voice in career clarity and career change, my work has been recognized by clients and industry leaders alike. I’ve seen firsthand the transformative effect that career clarity can have, especially for professionals in corporate roles who feel disconnected from their work. Helping them achieve a renewed sense of purpose and motivation has become a central focus of my work, and it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do. If you’re a journalist covering career development, employee engagement, or women’s professional empowerment, my perspective might be of interest to your audience. I’m passionate about reshaping the field of career coaching with actionable, purpose-driven strategies that tap into people’s potential. Through my programs, speaking engagements, and client success stories, I’m redefining career clarity as a pathway to true fulfillment, purpose, and long-lasting success. I would be honored to share my insights and success stories with your audience, offering a fresh take on how people can achieve meaningful, sustainable career change.

I am a publicist, coder, music industry executive and TV Producer with a track record of securing premier media placements and managing high-stakes narratives. At Popularity PR, I help high-profile individuals and corporations across the entertainment, legal, and political sectors navigate the modern media landscape. With an entrepreneurial background that includes building AI-driven intellectual property tools and navigating complex civil litigation, I offer a multifaceted perspective on how business, law, and culture collide. Available for expert commentary on: Public Relations (crisis comms, brand strategy), Entertainment (industry, celebrity narratives), Law (litigation strategy, IP protection), and Entrepreneurship (tech development, startups). Personal Interests: Music, binge-watching Netflix, and diving into complex legal strategy.

Pastor Troy B. Jackson, PhD, is a Faith-Based Leadership Strategist, author, trainer, pastor, and constitutional advocate who equips leaders to stand with conviction in the church, the community, and the public square. He serves as Biblical Citizenship Pastor at DFW New Beginnings Church and is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Thrive Life Builders, where he develops training, leadership resources, civic education programs, and faith-based initiatives that strengthen families, churches, communities, and citizen leaders. With a background in ministry, political strategy, public safety, law enforcement, physical security, leadership development, and grassroots training, Dr. Jackson brings a rare blend of biblical worldview, constitutional understanding, practical strategy, and real-world experience. He teaches on faith, family, liberty, civic responsibility, leadership, discipleship, public engagement, and the role of believers in shaping culture with wisdom, courage, and conviction. Dr. Jackson is available for expert commentary, podcast interviews, articles, panels, and speaking opportunities related to biblical citizenship, faith and government, leadership development, church engagement, constitutional values, community safety, grassroots organization, and the intersection of morality, culture, and public life.

Ray Johnson is a retired FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, attorney, and educator whose career spans the courtroom, the classroom, and the command post. Over nearly 30 years in state and federal law enforcement, he has led complex criminal investigations, commanded SWAT operations, overseen national shooting‑incident reviews, and managed critical incidents and mass‑casualty events across the United States. Johnson is a veteran member of the Southern Nevada law enforcement community, with deep senior‑level experience coordinating federal, state, and local responses to both crises and major planned events. He has delivered high‑impact training on active shooter behavior, ethics, and leadership to thousands of public‑safety leaders and is frequently called in after major incidents to help agencies navigate culture, accountability, and public trust. As Division Counsel in multiple FBI field offices, Johnson provided legal oversight on investigations, ethics, and compliance and helped shape the FBI’s Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide. Internationally, he has mediated between Ukrainian anti‑corruption agencies and advised on governance and rule‑of‑law issues during Operation Enduring Freedom, earning recognition from the U.S. Ambassador for advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives. Now an adjunct faculty member at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law, he focuses on how law, leadership, and policy perform under real‑world pressure. His research and writing center on use of force, investigative accountability, organizational ethics, and the intersection of policing, immigration, and civil rights. He regularly helps journalists and the public make sense of complex law‑enforcement issues. He is coauthoring two forthcoming Criminal Investigation and Criminology texts as well as a companion leadership playbook for front‑line leaders working in high‑pressure, high‑visibility environments. Johnson’s honors include multiple high‑level executive leadership awards from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, as well as recognition from U.S. diplomatic leadership for international anti‑corruption work. He continues to consult with courts, law‑enforcement agencies, and organizations on use of force, crisis leadership, and organizational culture under scrutiny.

Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, is Managing Director of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. and one of the country’s most-cited authorities on how federal prison sentences are actually served — where a defendant is designated, what the Bureau of Prisons controls, and how much time a person really does. He’s the go-to source when a high-profile defendant is sentenced and the question becomes where they go and what happens there. TIME turned to him on Elizabeth Holmes, CNN on Sean “Diddy” Combs and FCI Fort Dix, and Inc. on Sam Bankman-Fried. Zoukis knows the system from the inside. He served a federal sentence, writing College for Convicts (McFarland, 2014), Prison Education Guide, and the Federal Prison Handbook (2017) while incarcerated, and earned a 2012 PEN America Prison Writing Award. He later authored the Directory of Federal Prisons (2020) and earned his J.D. from UC Davis School of Law, where he was Articles Editor of the UC Davis Law Review. He holds an M.B.A. from Adams State University. His focus: BOP designation under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b), sentence computation, First Step Act earned time credits and PATTERN scoring, RDAP, prison discipline and conditions of confinement, compassionate release, halfway house and home confinement placement, and reentry. He has advised hundreds of clients and families through federal incarceration. He is Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Defense Center, publisher of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News, and author of the forthcoming Federal Criminal Defendant’s Handbook and the third edition of The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Zoukis is not an attorney; all legal work is handled by lead counsel Elizabeth Franklin-Best, ranked in Chambers USA 2026 for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, named a 2026 Best Lawyer in America for Appellate Practice, and admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court and all U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. The firm assists with federal sentencing, direct appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and compassionate release. Quoted by TIME, CNN, Inc., Fox News, ABC News, the Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Bloomberg Law, The Hill, UPI, and Vice News. Contributor to the Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Prison Legal News, and Criminal Legal News. Contact: Chris@ZoukisDefense.com · (843) 620-1100 · https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/about-us/our-team/christopher-zoukis/

Erin Herman is a globally respected leadership strategist and keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of change, human-centered leadership, and performance at scale. Over the course of two decades, she has advised Fortune 500 executive teams and global institutions on how to lead through uncertainty with courage, empathy, and clarity—often in moments where the stakes could not be higher. Her leadership experience includes senior roles with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the United Nations, where she helped shape global corporate partnership strategies in service of the world’s most vulnerable populations. While working within the United Nations system through UNICEF, Erin co-created the Learning Passport in partnership with Microsoft and Cambridge University—an online and mobile education platform designed to deliver continuous access to quality learning for children affected by conflict, displacement, and crisis. The platform has since reached learners in more than 40 countries and was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Best Inventions and ranked by the Project Management Institute as the third most influential project in the world. Erin also played a central role in securing one of the largest philanthropic commitments ever made to a children’s hospital: a $300 million, 10-year partnership that continues to drive life-saving impact at scale. Today, Erin is known for translating extraordinary global experience into clear, grounded insight for leaders navigating complexity in the modern workplace. She is the creator of the CEG Method™ (Courage, Empathy, Growth Mindset) and the 4Cs Methodology™ (Conviction, Courage, Clarity, Confidence), frameworks trusted by organizations seeking sustainable change without burnout or performative leadership. A sought-after voice on women’s leadership, organizational culture, and decision-making under pressure, Erin is recognized for her ability to cut through noise with intelligence, warmth, and precision—delivering perspective that is both deeply human and powerfully actionable.

New York admitted attorney who began his legal career at a New York City District Attorney's Office and later built a government-facing career working across local, state, and federal partners. He served as Deputy Director of Government Relations at a national nonprofit, coordinating across more than 35 internal teams and external stakeholders to build an outreach strategy that helped take pilot programs from early-stage concepts to city and statewide scale. He brings a practical, implementation-focused approach that connects law, policy, and government process to operational execution. He is also a contributor on WBUR (NPR)'s investigative podcast Beyond All Repair, which won the 2025 Ambie for Best True Crime Podcast and was named among Vulture's best podcasts of 2024.

Sarah Federman's career has never followed a straight line, which makes her useful to reporters looking for a different kind of expert. She spent her thirties as an international advertising executive working across more than ten countries with brands like Google, Bloomberg, Discovery, and the NFL. Then she saw her name on a Holocaust memorial wall and started asking questions the industry couldn't answer: What happens when companies cause serious harm? How can they address and prevent complicity in genocide, slavery, ecocide and other mass atrocity? How do they reckon with that? What does accountability even look like generations later? Those questions took her back to school and to a career as one of the most distinctive voices in the U.S. on corporate accountability and historical justice. Today she is an Associate Professor at the University of San Diego's Kroc School of Peace Studies, where she studies how corporations become complicit in large-scale human rights violations and how they can atone. She is the author of three books, two award-winning. Corporate Reckoning: How Companies Can Atone for Historical Transgressions (MIT Press, 2026) offers a framework for what genuine accountability looks like for institutions that have caused deep historical harm. Last Train to Auschwitz traces the decades-long effort to hold the French national railway responsible for transporting Jewish deportees to Nazi death camps. Transformative Negotiation, written with her Baltimore students, reframes negotiation as a vehicle for equity and structural change. Federman has testified twice before Congress on whether American banks bear responsibility for their historical ties to slavery, engaging both the scholarly and policy dimensions of reparations. She writes for the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the BBC, and is a TEDx speaker, whose talk was selected by TED main stage for global distribution. She is available to comment on corporate accountability, reparations, Holocaust memory, transitional justice, negotiation, business ethics, ESG, and environmental justice in the Tijuana River watershed.

I am a sociologist with more than 25 years of experience studying and teaching about social/economic inequality, social trends, and the structures that shape everyday life in the United States. I am a Full Professor of Sociology at Maryville University, where my commentary and analysis has appeared in a variety of media venues, such as Newsweek (Print and Online), Forbes, The Washington Post, and Scripps News. I have also shared my expertise with international media outlets as well like Metro UK, Arab News, The Hindustan Times, and The Daily Star (UK). Additionally, I have written columns for The Hill, The International Business Times, and The Crime Report. I translate complex social scientific research into clear, accessible language for the public to digest. Alongside my media work, I have published papers in my research roles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at professional conferences. My research has impacted legal policy at the state and national level regarding the state of Public Defense Systems. I am commitment to making sociology relevant and approachable for diverse audiences, what we in the discipline call " Public Sociology." At my core, I believe sociology is a powerful tool for understanding and changing the world we live in. I am available for media interviews, expert commentary, or bylined analysis on issues related to inequality, crime, and the broader social dynamics shaping American life.

Strategic, data-driven DEI thought leader providing collaborative leadership, facilitation, and implementation of key initiatives to advance the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy throughout the entire employee life cycle. Outstanding consultative partner leveraging DEI technology solutions, business acumen, critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to operate strategically to drive results in dynamic and ambiguous environments with influence. Experience in multiple corporate industries, government, academia, and the non-profit sector. With master’s degrees in both Criminal Justice and Psychology, along with a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University, I have a powerful understanding both of the work that needs to be done around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and of how our brains function, which allows me to support leaders and entrepreneurs in shifting their perspectives and practices. I know that by embracing D, E & I, we grow impact and revenue, and fulfill our commitment to truly changing the world.

Aarti began her career as a teacher and a juvenile defender before serving as an executive director and a leader on political campaigns and leading key policy and charter school initiatives at both the Georgia Charter Schools Association and the Georgia Department of Education. Topic expertise: • K–12 education policy and legislation; impact on schools/districts • Georgia’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding • Impact of federal education policy shifts (especially on Georgia schools) • Charter school policy and accountability • School district flexibility and innovation • Charter school authorization

Jasmine is a career expert with a background in nonprofit management and significant experience as a hiring manager and leader. She focuses on helping job seekers improve their professional resumes to highlight their unique skills and experience. Jasmine holds a B.S. in biochemistry and PhD in neuropharmacology and offers six years of specialized experience helping candidates navigate the complexities of today’s online job market, with a strong focus on resume optimization and effective self-presentation. She has had her work featured on LiveCareer’s resume builder and in these online publications: Fast Company, CNBC, Fortune, and more.

My passion is being the best at what I do as an HR extraordinaire. I am a dedicated and innovative human resources executive with close to 20 years of experience designing and executing human resources strategies with expertise in implementing personnel and industrial security programs in various industries including healthcare, the federal government, and non-for-profit.Whether it’s managing my company’s Human Resources department or leading administration, I put passion into everything I do. I consider myself a team player who always Gets The Job Done, is not afraid to ask questions, and is always ready to jump in and get my hands dirty.Specialties: Operations management, training and development, employee relations, compensation & benefits design, harassment and EEO compliance, policy design & administration, facility program related to national security

Dr. Lillian Glass is a world-renowned, well-respected communication, body language, and human behavior expert. She has written numerous best-selling books, including "Toxic People," where she coined the term, as well as The Body Language of Liars. She is not only a media commentator where she disucsses newsmakers but also uses her expertise as an expert witness in both state and federal courts. She is alsoan award winning fimmaker with her film Reinventing Rosalee, which debuted at Cannes receiving 57 awards worldwide.