Avis A. Jones-DeWeever

Avis A. Jones-DeWeever, Ph.D. is the Director of the Research, Public Policy, and Information Center for African American Women. The RPPI Center is a new research/action institute housed at the National Council of Negro Women which seeks to inform, catalyze and mobilize African American women for change in both the policy arena and throughout the broader cultural dynamic.

Dr. Jones-DeWeever is the author of numerous publications focused on policy-issues of particular importance to women of color. A selection of her works include: Saving Ourselves: African American Women and the HIV/AIDS Crisis; Abandoned Before the Storms: The Glaring Disaster of Gender, Race, and Class Disparities in the Gulf; Resilient and Reaching for More: Challenges and Benefits of Higher Education for Welfare Participants; and the forthcoming, Black Girls in the City of New York: Quite Strength, Bold Resilience.

In addition to her written contributions, Dr. Jones-DeWeever has become a highly sought-after political commentator. Her policy perspectives have been shared through a variety of print, radio, and television outlets including: The CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight Show, ABC News Now, PBS’s To the Contrary, Voice of America Television, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News, National Public Radio, Pacifica Radio, America Urban Radio Network, BBC Radio-International, Glamour Magazine, the New York Times, and Vital Speeches of the Day.

Dr. Jones-DeWeever received her Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Voices. Women Vote. Action Fund, and maintains the position of Affiliated Scholar with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.