Leadership: Co-Conveners
Jessica R. Wolff is a veteran nonprofit leader, education policy analyst, researcher, writer, and advocate. She conceived of DemocracyReady NY and has been a driving force behind it. Ms. Wolff moved with Michael Rebell from the Campaign for Fiscal Equity to the Center for Educational Equity at its founding in 2005. She served as its policy and research director from 2005 to 2025 and has been a core leader of its work and strategic direction. Ms. Wolff was a longtime board member (and former board president) of the Children’s Museum of the Arts and is the parent of two NY public school graduates. jessica@democracyreadyny.org
Nan Eileen Mead is a longtime education policy advocate, researcher, and policymaker. Ms. Mead, after a first career in the finance sector, served on several education policy and advocacy boards as a public school parent of children attending New York City public schools. From 2016 to 2022, she represented the 1st Judicial District on the New York State Board of Regents. During her tenure, she co-chaired the Regents Subcommittee on State Aid. She was Director of Outreach and Communications at the Center for Educational Equity from 2022 to 2025. naneileen@democracyreadyny.org