Malasia McClendon leads Strategy, Impact, & Communications at the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity. She leads the implementation and tracking of the Center’s strategic plan, ensuring that progress toward organizational goals is evaluated and communicated clearly. Malasia also guides the Center’s communications strategy – overseeing storytelling, public messaging, and campaign development to elevate the Center’s visibility and statewide impact.

Working in partnership with the Senior Director, Malasia provides strategic insight across the center’s programming. She ensures that each initiative is aligned with the center’s mission, while supporting donor engagement, merchandise development, impact reporting, and communications. Her work blends strategy with creativity—bringing clarity, cohesion, and innovation to all aspects of the center’s internal and external engagement.

A proud North Carolina native, Malasia earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University. She brings a deep commitment to public service and envisions a future where history, policy, practice, and people are connected to drive lasting change for every individual. In her free time, Malasia enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors.

Kevoni Polanco-Nelson provides Coordination & Operations support at the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity. In this role, she provides essential support across the Center’s operations, programs, and communications. Her responsibilities include coordinating events and initiatives such as the Student Voices Webinar Series, Rural Teacher Leader Network, and the Color of Education Summit. She also plays a key role in managing communications and helping to disseminate the Center’s research and programmatic efforts.

With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kevoni brings a strong background in program development, operations, and organizational support. Prior to joining the Public School Forum, she worked with national organizations including the Girl Scouts and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she championed youth development, mentorship, and community engagement.

A Boston native, Kevoni holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. She began her career in child welfare and behavioral health before transitioning to nonprofit leadership roles focused on equity and youth advocacy.

Kevoni is passionate about advancing educational equity and is excited to contribute to the Flood Center’s mission of creating a more just and inclusive future for all students.

Shelby Snead-McAllister provides part-time program support at the Dudley Flood Center and plays a central role in ensuring the success of the programs and operations of the Center.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Organizational Management, and is a member of the International Administrative Professionals Association. Shelby retired in 2024 from the  NC Department of Public Instruction. She is actively involved in the outreach ministry at her church. In her free time, Shelby enjoys organizing, cooking, hosting family dinners, and helping others in need.

Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith is a strategic leader, coalition builder, and expert in advancing opportunity and access within public education. With over 20 years of experience, she has led transformative efforts across North Carolina and beyond as a teacher, mentor, new teacher coach, administrator, and school turnaround expert. She previously served as Director of Board Policy and Operations for the North Carolina State Board of Education and as Assistant Director in the NC Office of Charter Schools.

Dr. Townsend-Smith holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, equipping her with a deep understanding of how effective leadership, sound policy, and data-driven decision-making shape school systems. Her background in curriculum and instruction further enhances her ability to design, evaluate, and scale high-quality educational programs that meet the diverse needs of students and educators.

She is widely recognized for her creative, results-driven approaches to solving complex challenges in education. Her work emphasizes building collaborative partnerships, aligning resources, and empowering local leaders to strengthen teaching and learning environments across school communities.

Dr. Townsend-Smith is the recipient of several honors for her contributions to education, including formal resolutions from the North Carolina State Board of Education and the Charter Schools Advisory Board, the Women in Leadership Award, and the Legacy of Excellence Award from Teach For America. She uses her experiences to advocate for others, mentor emerging leaders, and elevate equity-focused solutions that drive meaningful change.

As Senior Director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity, she leads statewide programmatic and policy initiatives focused on improving student outcomes and increasing access to high-quality learning opportunities for all. Under her leadership, the Center fosters cross-sector collaboration to create more inclusive, supportive, and effective public education systems in North Carolina.

She believes deeply in giving back and serves on a variety of boards and committees to further change through action and service. Dr. Townsend-Smith lives in North Carolina with her husband and son. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading, and traveling.